Issue link: https://lpl.uberflip.com/i/680130
Library Forms Community Focused ViP Volunteers in Place (ViP) is a group of dedicated, enthusiastic and skilled library staff that want to make an impact in our community, as part of an outward facing organization. e group's goal is to build relationships within the community and the Library, to develop staff skill sets, to promote health and wellness, to promote community building and to promote the library as a 'community' organization. During 2015 the group sponsored two Food for Fines campaigns (Library customers could pay off their library fines with donations to the Lethbridge and Interfaith Food Banks). Customers paid off $7,171 in fines and donated 1,761 pounds of food. As part of a Blood Donor Challenge last summer, 20 staff members donated blood. Information about a number of self-driven volunteer experiences, including Random Act of Kindness Day, Street Treats for Streets Alive Mission and the CNIB Night Steps Walk was shared with library staff. Thank You for Sharing Your Ideas With Us e 'Sounds Good to Me' Community Engagement campaign distributed a handout called 100 Ideas From Us (Library staff helped compile the list) showing the many ways the Library and a library card can add benefits to life. is was followed up with a contest offering the chance to win a set of red Beats headphones, engaging the community by saying, 'we want to hear what you have to say' and we'd like to receive 100's of Ideas From You. e entry form for the contest asked individuals to complete the sentence "I'd be excited if the Library would…" We offered the promotion on the Bookmobile at a number of community events including Neighbour Day, Canada Day, Love and Records, Sports Fest and WOTS. It was also available through in-house displays and on the library's website and Facebook page. e RED branding (headphones, t-shirts, Frisbees advertising Vinyl Revival) carries through from the red chair campaign in 2014. We received some wonderful suggestions and the bonus was that the contest entries drilled right down to responses from some of our very youngest customers. It's great to have their input as it's their Library now and well into the future.