Fundraising

There are many ways to add dollars to an annual budget for enhancing the media center collection. Hosting a book fair is the most common, and probably the most lucrative, endeavor. Look over the following suggestions and choose the ideas that fit best for your program.

Scholastic is a recognized name to parents, teachers, and students and their paperback books are less expensive than book stores. Scholastic often also has exclusive paperback rights to new titles so patrons can buy paperback copies not available elsewhere. There are tiers of fairs depending on your school level, population, and previous dollar sales. Call or go to their website to book a fair. Although Scholastic schedules fair dates a year in advance, they can easily be changed. Most schools have one or two book fairs a year.
 * Scholastic Book Fair**

There are new themes each season; you can download extensive decorating ideas, directions, and templates from the book fair website. Scholastic will send a promotion kit about 6 weeks prior to the fair. The books are delivered in rolling cases that open up to create browsing shelves. A rep comes to some schools to help set up the fair. Your fair will be the most successful if you offer browsing times for each classroom where students can complete “wish lists” of titles to take home to their parents. Then schedule separate buying days for classes to return to the book fair with their money to purchase. Many schools use PTA or parent volunteers to man the cash registers or “work the sales floor.” Enhance your sales volume by opening during an evening PTA event or a Saturday school fair or even on Conference Day or Election Day. When your fair is finished, simply box up any leftover books and snap the rolling carts closed. A truck will retrieve the fair a day or so later. Schools can receive 25% of the total sales volume in cash or can maximize their profit by taking 50% of the total volume in books or vouchers. Contact Cheryl Corrigan, Northwood Elementary, if you have further questions about Scholastic Book Fairs.

This company comes to the school in a bus which acts as the sales room. All the books are displayed in the bus. Simply select a location for the bus to park and schedule classes to visit the fair. The Pickle Patch company provides the sales force. The media center can earn _ in profits from this fair. Contact Claudia Zurbrick, Manning Oaks Elementary, if you have further questions about Pickle Patch.
 * Pickle Patch Book Fair**

Barnes and Noble book stores offer school fair nights.
 * Barnes and Noble**


 * Usborne Books**


 * Birthday Book Clubs**

You can publicize a birthday club for your media center. It is helpful to have a list of desired books or a pre-purchased collection at the ready. By purchasing a book for the Media Center in honor of their child’s birthday, parents can enroll their child in the Birthday Book Club. A birthday bookplate can be placed in the book so it will become a permanent reminder of the honoree. Allow the child to be the first to check out the book. You can even organize a birthday club celebration sometime during the year to honor all of your donors. In some schools, teachers donate books in honor of other teachers.

QSP is a magazine fundraiser sponsored by Reader’s Digest. They offer 700 of the most popular magazines at significant savings. Schools receive 40% of every subscription dollar sold. Online sales are also offered.
 * QSP**

This is also a magazine subscription fundraiser.
 * Bear Fair**