"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." - Helen Keller
The Library Foundation enters 2017 with great momentum, and we are incredibly grateful to all of you, for every kind of support - as advocates, volunteers, users, and financial supporters.
This month John Bracken, VP of Technology Innovation from the Knight Foundation, visited our Library. The Knight Foundation is exploring the role of libraries in communities, and it was very interesting to view ourselves through their lens. Our conversations about the future of Main Library and the surrounding North Tryon cultural district included civic leaders, neighboring organizations, and some of the most creative thinkers in Charlotte. Bringing together people from different backgrounds demonstrated in process what our Library is: an inclusive place of collaboration and sharing of ideas.
That same week, a staff member in the Library’s outreach department told me about a game of “Life Experience Bingo” she led at a senior center. The game prompts participants to recall personal moments large and small – goals they’ve achieved, celebrities they’ve met, contests they’ve won, and more – to share. Ruth, a 99-year-old participant, told the librarian how important it made her feel to bring her life experiences to a meaningful discussion.
It's truly a privilege to experience the Library through multiple lenses – from the impact on an individual to the much bigger picture of the Library’s role in the community and beyond, and to see real parallels between practice and reality.
Perspective. Everyone has one, and asking and sharing means so much. Thank you for your support, and for being part of our Library family.
Jenni Gaisbauer, CFRE
Executive Director
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