Library Auctioning Naming Rights on eBay Tries Again

-- Library Journal, 02/15/2006

The Womelsdorf Community Library, PA serves as the center of this small town 20 miles west of Reading, offering 161 programs last year for a population of about 2,600 people. But the 2000-square-foot library is too small, and library officials would like to both renovate the building and construct and addition. The cost: nearly $1 million. Though the library has raised $420,000 in grants, it has found the local fundraising environment a challenge, so board members decided to offer naming rights on eBay. "Name a library after yourself or a special person," the posting stated.

When the bidding ended on February 9, there was only one bid, $325,000, which was below the reserve figure of $375,000. The library tried to contact that one bidder, but to no avail. MaryAnne Beamesderfer, the capital campaign cochair and a board member, told LJ  the library would go back to eBay. "We have lowered our starting bid price to $300,000 and do not have a reserve," she said. "We are also in jeopardy of losing some of our grant money if construction does not begin in the summer of 2006." The library's annual budget is $72,400, and its circulation increase was the highest in Berks County, Beamesderfer said. "It's an amazing little library, but it needs space." At the very least, it's gotten publicity.