The Zombie Stack Exchanges That Just Won't Die
Our Friends Group is interested in pursuing business sponsorships, and I see a need for a policy that sets guidelines for this. Concerns that come to mind:
Probably there are other concerns I have not even considered. Can you share a policy that works for your library?
Mary Jo Finch
Our library has benefited from sponsorships in the past, although these have been limited to things such as buildings, equipment, indvidual books, etc. Another area to be aware of is if an item is not longer required, does it still need to be retained regardless and the associated cost implications.
Sponsorship is usually individually tailored and this can address responsibilities such as logos, advertising, plaques, exclusiveness, etc. A sunset clause should also apply, so that both sides understand both the beginning and end date of obligations. If a logo is used, you should check your incorporation articles to see if/where it can be used, and give consideration whether the logo was a permanent or temporary fixture and the costs involved in amending this.
Legal agreements are best when negiotating with sponsors, and provide clear lines of understanding about obligations.
Our library also allows individuals to 'sponsor a book' which allows sponsors to be matched to new acquisitions, which taps into the grassroots level of support. To avoid confusion, a policy should be aimed at both larger and small sponsorship levels.