Be A Benefactor: The Campaign for the New Enfield Public Library

by Lara Maville
Hits: 3674
Enfield Public Library Mailer

I have always loved going to the library. From wanting to renew an audio copy of Peter and The Wolf (on an LP) over and over again, to looking at the picture books, to researching a report, to studying for a big test. Some of my best design ideas came to life in the library. Of course, nowadays you can sit at home and do all your research right in the comfort of your dining room, living room, home office, or where ever else you can get wifi. But libraries offer much more than just books. There's the quiet (most of the time); the lack of distraction from sitting at home where laundry needs to be done and dogs need to be walked; the comfy chair next to a coffee table to with a nice stack of books to go through. And, of course, there's the books! Lots of books, old books, new books, audio books, magazines. So many books, so little time.

 When I was contacted by the Trustees at the Enfield Public Library to see if I would be interested in designing their fund raising campaign mailer, I readily accepted not only because it was a project for a library, (which I have already mentioned I am quiet fond of) but also because it was going to be printed, and I love print design. This was going to be something that you could open up, an invitation of sorts. An invitation to the community to support the building of a much needed new library in Enfield. I couldn't wait to get started on this project.

I headed to – where else! –  the library to start my creative brainstorming and sketching process. Working with ideas from Mark Johnson, an Enfield resident who was helping the Trustees, I created a design that is inviting, informative, and elegant.

Here is what one Enfield resident had to say about the mailer once it had been sent out:

"I just want to say, "outstanding" to the mailing you just sent out for the Campaign for the New Enfield Public Library. You can count on me to be a supporter. It is truly one of the nicest pieces for a fundraising project I have seen. The piece really shows that you have put a lot of thought and organization into this project. Makes me proud to be a resident of Enfield."

So far, the feedback in the community has been positive and I believe the library is on it's way to reaching it's financial goals. Our hope is that the residents of Enfield, and beyond, will see what a wonderful opportunity this is to be a benefactor and support not only their library but their community as well. And I hope that people will stop by, find a nice book, and settle into a comfy chair for a while. The laundry can wait a little longer.