Special events: defining goals, planning and measuring success

Successful special events planning and execution are part of a library development officer's job. Understanding the need to set goals early and then properly evaluating the event based upon these goals is essential to measuring the success or failure of the event. Often the only measurement criteria for an event is the profit at the end of the day. Thinking strategically regarding an event, both short‐ and long‐term, will make a difference in the lasting quality of the library development program as well as the libraries’ place on the campus or in the community.