West Chester Public Library

Challenge

Institutions that have been around for 150 years rarely look it, and that can work against them. The West Chester Public Library, chartered in 1873, was approaching a significant milestone and preparing to launch a major five-year fundraising campaign: THE NEXT 150: Stewarding Our Future. The goal was $1.5 million to improve spaces, steward resources, and retire the mortgage. Before any of that could happen, the Library needed a refreshed visual identity and a campaign package that could inspire a community to invest in what comes next.

Solution

Open Haus refreshed the Library’s logo, honoring the institution’s legacy while providing clarity and versatility across digital and print channels. We then designed a distinct campaign mark for THE NEXT 150 that could anchor all fundraising communications. The campaign brochure brought all the elements together: goals, donor tiers, naming opportunities, and the case for giving, laid out in a colorful, accessible design that made a complex fundraising pitch feel warm, clear, and urgent. The materials were designed to work equally well in a board member’s hands as in a community member’s mailbox.

Result

THE NEXT 150 launched with a visual identity that gave the campaign credibility and momentum. The Library had the tools to approach major donors, engage the community, and communicate a compelling vision for its next 150 years of service to Chester County. The brochure became the cornerstone communication piece for the entire campaign.