Digital Event RFP Issued By Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library

The Friends is requesting proposals to create and produce a virtual presentation of Opus & Olives on Sunday October 11, 2020. 

Specifically, we require a vendor who has the capability to: •

• • Design, Direct, Stage Manage, and in general Produce a live video streaming event to a select, ticketed audience on the evening of October 11, 2020. •
• • Within the live performance, we will have previously recorded videos of author presentations. Vendor must be able to work remotely with up to five authors to design, direct, record, and edit short presentations (five to seven minutes each) featuring the author speaking about his/her work. These presentations must be recorded remotely from their homes. •
• • The celebrity emcee (already contracted) will be live, most likely, from New York City. He will spend three to four minutes in a live discussion with each of the four other authors, from their remote locations, following each of the author’s pre-recorded video presentations. •
• • Provide live captioning for the hearing impaired • 
• • Facilitate technology for a live fund-raising component during the evening, which will take place immediately following a pre-recorded video featuring SPPL and The Friends. •
• • Manage a live discussion feed allowing our guests to interact with live reactions and possible Q&A, simple enough for an inexperienced user. • 
• • Use of thank you slides before and after the event 

Background:

Since 1882, Saint Paul Public Library (hereafter, “SPPL”) has been a center for learning, innovation, and creativity for all of Saint Paul’s residents. Today, 13 library branches in every neighborhood plus the metro’s only remaining bookmobile work far beyond the traditional notion of a “book repository” to meet the learning needs of young children, senior citizens, immigrants, refugees, job seekers, entrepreneurs, people struggling with homelessness and health issues, makers, artists, and more. The Library is an engine for equity that offers all residents the opportunity to develop the skills they need to thrive.
The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library (hereafter, “The Friends”) was founded in 1945 to serve as a catalyst for libraries to strengthen and inspire communities. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, donations to which are tax deductible. 

The Friends is one of the country’s most robust library support organizations and today supports not only SPPL, but also the statewide literary community, plus a national network of libraries. The Friends:

• • undertakes advocacy and fundraising to support SPPL, leveraging private support to achieve maximum public investment,
• • produces the MN Book Awards and is Minnesota’s Library of Congress-designated Center for the Book, and 
• • runs Library Strategies Consulting Group to support a national ecosystem that values and invests in libraries.

Since 1992, The Friends has advocated for $43.5 million in new funding from the City. It has raised $15 million from the private sector for capital projects and $13 million for operating and project grants. A $15 million endowment supports professional development for library staff, materials purchases, and special initiatives. In 2019, 1,976 donors made gifts to The Friends totaling over $1.2 million. 

Opus & Olives
Opus & Olives is The Friends’ major annual fundraising event; in 2019, the event earned net proceeds of nearly $200,000. Historically, Opus & Olives takes place annually on the second Sunday of October from approximately 4 to 9 p.m. at the Saint Paul RiverCentre. The fundraising event features author presentations by five nationally-renowned writers who have new work in publication. Presented by RBC Wealth Management, Opus & Olives is one of the East Metro’s premier social and philanthropic events of the year. Generally, more than 900 people attend the gala.
Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, we have determined that the event, in its current form is untenable. The decision has been made to take it virtual. 

Due Date:

Tuesday, June 9, 2020

Address:

Beth@thefriends.org or by mail to Beth Burns, The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, 1080 Montreal Ave. #2, Saint Paul, MN 55116.

Agencies worth considering for this assignment include Hunter PR and Magrino PR.