Join us in supporting and advocating for TCPL
Team TCPL
Some of our most trusted and important democratic institutions are under attack, including public libraries! People who understand the power of free access to information are looking for ways to step up and safeguard our freedoms and public spaces. Here at the TCPL Foundation, we offer ways to contribute to the continued success of our Library, through individual peer to peer fundraising and advocacy for library funding. This is what Team TCPL is all about.
Two ways you can help
1. Peer to Peer Fundraising is Fun!
Team TCPL knows how to put the "fun" in fundraising! When you create your own fundraiser for TCPL, you can inject it with your own personality and interests! Your fundraiser can be as personal, challenging, or quirky as you are! One of the easiest ways to show your support for TCPL is to ask for donations instead of birthday presents on social media, but there are many other ways to get the job done. You're only limited by your imagination!
Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing:
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Make and sell jewelry and donate a percentage of the profits
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Host a karaoke competition where contestants pay an entry fee and donate the proceeds
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Ask people to donate a certain amount for every book your child reads over the summer
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Have a garage or yard sale with your neighbors and donate the proceeds
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Take donations where each dollar counts as a vote to determine what you will wear to your first day of school, your wedding, or another big event--and take and share lots of photos!
The Library Foundation is here to help support you on your fundraising adventure. We will help you promote your fundraiser; provide you with information about TCPL, the Foundation, and our mission; give you permission to use our Team TCPL logo in your fundraising materials, whether online or in print; provide donation forms; send acknowledgements, tax receipts, and thank yous to donors and supporters, if you give us their contact information; and follow up on your event with public appreciation on our website, social media accounts, newsletter, or a press release.
2. Make your voice count!
Members of a team look out for each other - and that's what library advocacy really is: doing your best to ensure your community has the best public library possible. Since TCPL serves everyone, with no expectation of money changing hands, it is truly a gift to all when you spend your time advocating for library funding, resisting book bans, and spreading the word about the many resources and services you can find at your public library.
Here are some resources to get you started:
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United Against Book Bans: this organization provides book resumes for people to use when defending books from censorship, celebrates the freedom to read with the annual Right to Read Day, and collects information from supporters about attempted book bans in your community, among other things.
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American Library Association: this professional library organization has all the news you could ever want about developments in national funding for libraries, resources on Intellectual Freedom, data about banned and challenged books, and more. It also offers toolkits for advocacy and templates of letters you can send to elected officials to share your opinions on libraries, censorship, and more.
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New York Library Association offers tools for engaging with state legislators in the fight for library funding.
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Tompkins County Legislature is responsible for directing funds to TCPL, and they provide the majority of library funding. It's always helpful for library advocates to contact their representatives and let them know how important TCPL is to our community!
Questions? How to get started
To learn more about how the Foundation can assist with your Team TCPL fundraising event, or to discuss your ideas or advocacy opportunities, contact Kerry Barnes at kbarnes@tcplfoundation.org.
Please note: the Foundation cannot accept donations of books for TCPL. If you have books you wish to donate, please contact the Friends of the Tompkins County Public Library at info@booksale.org or visit www.booksale.org.