Presentation about the history of New Jersey Makers Day and best practices for successful events delivered at the 2020 BCCLS Maker Funconference on February 19, 2020.

1. 2020 BCCLS Maker Funconference | Allen McGinley | February 19, 2020

2. New Jersey Makers Day:
A NJ Nonprofit Corporation

3. History
● Piscataway PL launches first NJ
public library makerspace in
January 2013
● Planning for first New Jersey
Makers Day begins 2014
● Pilot project funded by a grant from
LibraryLinkNJ 2015-2016
● New Jersey Makers Day
incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit
in 2016

4. Operation
● Mission is to inspire and activate
libraries to showcase and highlight
STEM and maker culture, enhancing
life-long learning.
● New Jersey Makers Day is governed
by an 11-member Executive Board
● Primarily funded by corporate
sponsors

5. Funding
● Annual expenditures run about
$10,000-12,000
● Primary expenses include mini grant
awards, professional development
opportunities, and statewide
marketing
● Current support comes from PSEG
Foundation, New Jersey State
Library, and Investors Bank

6. Best Practices

7. Event Funding
● Library Friends Groups and
Foundations
● Non-Library Foundations and
Grants
● Official New Jersey Makers Day
Mini Grants
● Other New Jersey Makers Day
Sponsored Grants
● Local Sources

8. Volunteers

9. Volunteer Responsibilities
● Greet attendees
● Registration / fill out forms
● Provide direction to activities
● Extra set of hands for workshops
● Staff demonstration tables
● Monitor traditionally self-service
activities
● Give staff breaks
● Document the event

10. Community Partnerships

11. Community Partnerships
● K-12 public, private, charter schools
● Colleges/universities
● Afterschool programs
● Scouting groups
● Other community groups

12. Promotion and Marketing

13. Statewide Marketing
● Official customizable poster
● Google Ads
● Social Media Ads on Facebook,
Instagram, and Twitter

14. Promotion & Marketing Kit
● Promotion checklist
● Sample press release
● Stock pictures (more at
flickr.com/photos/njmakersday)
● Official logos in different formats
● Official fonts and HEX color codes
● Other various goodies that are not
strictly “marketing”
http://njmakersday.org/index.php/promotion-marketing-kit/

15. Promotion You Can Do
● Community partners - Township,
schools, houses of worship, etc
● Banner across the street
● Electronic signs for Township
messages
● Text blasts from the Police Dept
● Local blogs - news, parenting, etc
● Targeted blasts by your partners
● Paid ads on social media

16. Inviting Guests

17. Inviting guests to your event
● Library Board Trustees
● Leadership from Chamber of
Commerce, Rotary, and other
community organizations
● School Board of Education
members
● Superintendent, school Principals,
teachers, etc
● Township officials, dept heads
● Mayor, Council members
● Local legislators

18. Capturing the Event

19. Questions?
amcginley@njmakersday.org