Bad
libraries build collections, good libraries build services, great libraries
build communities.
- R. David Lankes
I’m
not sure there is such a thing as a bad
library, but I absolutely believe great libraries build communities – and
great communities build libraries. Here in Mecklenburg County, we have both.
I’ve been thinking about how important it is in today's world that people from
all backgrounds can come together in a welcoming, inclusive, accessible place to share experiences. For our community, that place is our Library.
We gather at the Library for entertaining programs like a film series, life-changing
resources like those in the Job Help Center, and for community
conversations about the critical issues that
challenge and too often divide our society.
On
June 30, your Library Foundation closed another impactful fiscal year. Together, our community invested over $1.47 million dollars in Library programming, print and digital collections, and a growing endowment for future needs. In this issue, Seth Ervin describes how unrestricted dollars raised by our Foundation helped the Library meet an overwhelming demand for online services.
The Leon Levine Foundation believes in our community, and they've demonstrated that confidence through a $100,000 matching grant that challenges us to grow our donor base for long term sustainability. Our goal is to increase our family of donors by 25% in the next six months, and I know we can do it. I
hope you’ll help us show and share the Library love by telling others why you
support the Library Foundation and encouraging them to get involved too. You can
start by forwarding this newsletter!
As
always, thank you for supporting your Library and enjoy the rest of your
summer.
