Edinburgh University’s Raising and Giving (RAG) team have raised over £1,500 for World Book Night through a ‘library fines week’ in conjunction with the university library.
They decided to host the event during the week following World Book Night, 24 – 28 April 2017, which they promoted via Edinburgh RAG’s Instagram, Facebook, and with posters around campus as well as a university-wide email. Students were encouraged to drop into any of the nine libraries across campus, where they were able to pay off their fines in person, by card or in cash, with the proceeds going directly to The Reading Agency and World Book Night.
Catherine Livesey, a student who organised the event with the RAG team, says part of the success of the campaign was down to volunteers who manned a desk in the campus’s main library: “We made sure we had people at the desk around lunchtime, when students were milling around”. The volunteers took time out of their busy revision and exam period to encourage others to donate their fines to charity, and together Edinburgh RAG and the library raised a vital contribution to help World Book Night continue getting books to disadvantaged groups who don’t regularly read.
Thinking of running a similar event? Catherine shares her top tips:
• Get the word out early via social media and, if you can, direct emails to library members. People don’t mind donating the fines to charity as they’ll have to pay them anyway!
• Make it as easy as possible for people to pay off their fines – Edinburgh University has nine libraries, and students were able to pay at any of them.
• Have volunteers on the ground manning desks and answering questions – it really helps encourage donations.
Get involved
We are always delighted when our supporters fundraise for us. No matter how small, your donations really make a difference. Sign up to organise your own event via our JustGiving page
Read more about World Book Night
