Earlier this week, I was attending the Wisconsin Library Association conference, and while chatting with a library worker, I got an idea.
Libraries are always struggling to create content that helps tell their stories. A small anecdote from this colleague sparked an idea for one way libraries can tell the story of how much money they save their patrons — in a variety of fun ways — using one simple prop that most libraries already have.
Her library prints how much each patron saves at the bottom of every receipt. Nothing new there — plenty of libraries do it.
But then she told me the best part. At her library, some families turn the receipt into a game. As it prints, they try to guess the amount, and whoever gets closest wins. That simple anecdote sparked an idea: libraries save money, and most of us are struggling to tell that story in a way that resonates with audiences.
We know the numbers. We print them on receipts. We cite them in budget meetings and annual reports. But do our patrons feel them? That family at the circulation desk did — not because they saw a statistic, but because they turned it into a moment of joy.
Why This Matters
We talk a lot about the ROI of libraries — the dollars saved, the value to the community. Those numbers matter; they’re how we make the case to funders and elected officials.
But the receipt game is a reminder that the numbers are never really the point. The point is what they mean to the people at your desk. For a cash-strapped family, that total isn’t a statistic. It’s a fun contest at the desk. It’s a week of groceries. It’s a birthday present they didn’t think they could afford. It’s the difference between “we can’t” and “we can.”
Telling the Story, Your Way
This idea translates perfectly into social media. The game is one example — and it’s a great one. But it’s not the only way to make those savings feel real. Here are a few scenarios you could use to create fun and compelling social media content:
- The game-show angle. Film a family guessing the total as the receipt prints. Maybe have a staff member dressed as a game show host. Buzzer, countdown, dramatic reveal. Comedy gold, no scripting needed. The message: Libraries are where families go to save and have fun.
- The meaningful angle. Interview a person about what the savings mean to their household. Show them holding the receipt, and let them tell the story in their own words. It could be a parent being able to say “yes” to their kids, when they usually have to say “no.” It could be a retired person bringing books to a spouse recovering from surgery, and not having to worry about spending money they need for medical bills. Or it could be a silly or playful story. The message: Libraries help you save so you can pay for what matters.
- The surprise angle. “I had no idea I was saving this much.” Capture a patron’s genuine reaction to seeing their total. Add some confetti or balloons to bring that sweepstakes vibe, or keep it simple. The message: Libraries are saving you more than you realize.
- The shopping angle. “Here’s what I bought with the money I saved at the library this year.” Make the savings tangible – and focus on the patron. Maybe they have a fun hobby. Maybe they bought a motorcycle helmet and you can show them driving off on their Harley. Maybe a kid bought a chess set and went on to become her school chess champion. Or it could be something more profound, like “I bought groceries for my neighbor who is homebound.” The message: Libraries make your life better in traditional and unexpected ways.
- The year-in-review angle. Add up a patron’s total savings over a year and show what that adds up to — a vacation, a new bike, a semester’s worth of textbooks. The message: Libraries make things possible.
- The comparison angle. “What else costs what your library saves you?” A subscription, a streaming service, a coffee habit. Put the number in context. The message: Libraries help you to budget smarter.
- The giving-back angle. A patron sees their savings total and realizes they want to give back. Feature someone who donated to their library, Friends group, or foundation — and let them explain why. It flips the story from “what the library gives me” to “what I want to give the library.”
Try one. Try all of them. Make it a series and see what lands with your community.
What You Can Do
If you’re a library worker reading this: you’re already printing those savings totals. You don’t need a new program or a bigger budget — you just need to make the number feel real to the person holding it.
This idea isn’t hypothetical. Manhattan Public Library ran a campaign called #ShowUrReceipts that did exactly this. They asked patrons to share their receipts, thanked them by name, and turned a simple receipt into a moment of pride. It’s proof that when you make the savings visible, people want to share them.
But this is just one way. They used a Canva template — you could make a short video, post pictures with meaningful captions, or try any format that fits your library’s voice. The point isn’t the format; it’s the spark: finding a way to make the savings feel real to the people holding that receipt.
Next time a family checks out, encourage them to make it a game and see what happens. Keep an eye out for those patrons and super supporters who would be willing to go on camera. Schedule a day and post a sign that says, “Today is Library Savings Day – come to our photo booth, tell us how much you saved, and get a prize!”
And a thank-you to the team at Fontana Library in Wisconsin — and the worker who was kind enough to share the story over lunch. This idea is theirs to pass on, and I’m grateful they did.
If you try any of these, I’d love to hear how it goes. And if you have your own way of making savings feel real — reach out. We’re all figuring this out together!
More posts about libraries and social media: https://cordeliaandersonconsulting.com/category/social-media
