Des Plaines library may cancel “Do the Dewey” fundraiser

The Des Plaines Public Library may put an end to its annual “Do the Dewey” fundraiser after calculating that the cost of putting on the event exceeds the money it’s collected.

The library is forming a fundraising development committee, which would decide whether or not to continue the Do the Dewey, or perhaps put on another fundraiser.

“We were hoping (the event) would grow but it never grew further,” said Heather Imhoff, head of Public Information Services at the library.

Over the nine years that the library held the event, it split profits with the Des Plaines Rotary Club. Upon further observation, the library found that it made $4,000 to $6,000 annually, but its expenses — mostly staff time — outweighed the returns.

“The event cost more in staff time than we made,” Imhoff said.

Initially, officials had hoped the event would not only bring in funds, but also people who did not regularly visit the library, Imhoff added. Over the years, however, it formed into a social event for community members.

“It became a networking event for the who’s who of Des Plaines,” she said.

The library now hopes to start a new fundraising event that will be more family-oriented and draw larger audiences.