Make a ‘recurring gift’ to the library today
From Staff Reports
LOCK HAVEN – Are you an avid reader or have a passion for books? Do you like knowing that your hard-earned money is being put to good use through a local organization? Then you might want to consider making a recurring gift donation to your local library.
A recurring donation is one that is a regular, ongoing donation made by a donor to an organization. These donations are typically given monthly or quarterly and are of any dollar amount.
“We have some recurring donors who donate $5 a month,” said Ross Library Executive Director Tammy Garrison. “There is no minimum or maximum and everything that is given is very much appreciated.”
Recurring donations can be set up online at www.RossLibrary.org and can be automatically charged to a credit card.
But did you know that some people leave money to the library in their Will?
“Include us in your estate plan,” a handout provided to The Record says. “Choose which library to support, and/or a program to support, and talk with your estate planner, but be sure to let us know of your plans so we can honor you.”
Tammy told The Record that money that is donated to the library can be earmarked to go anywhere.
“If you don’t tell us where you want your donation to go, we put it in the General Fund for the library as a whole, including our branch libraries in Renovo and Beech Creek, and can be used for things such as paying the electric bill, or buying paper for our copiers,” Tammy said. “The donor has to specify where they want money to go if they want it used for a specific thing.”
Annually, the library receives anywhere from 1 – 6 donations through estates.
“We get most of our funding through donations from the public and local organizations,” Tammy explained. “Some organizations, like the Sons of Italy, will donate the space for us to have a spaghetti dinner fundraiser, or every few years they will include us in their general giving, other organizations who support the library are our local Kiwanis and Rotary clubs.”
You might have seen the face of the library a bit more recently at local events, such as Best of Clinton County Day, or the Labor Day Regatta.
“We did a free book giveaway for children at the Regatta,” Tammy said, “but we need our donors to help and give so we can support this mission going forward.”
Your donations don’t only buy books, but the ability for the employees of the library and the public at large to enjoy a comfortable space to peruse the knowledge and stories held within.
Recently, the library was able to procure a brand new HVAC system through Keystone Grant for Public Libraries, thanks to Office of Commonwealth Libraries and Institute of Museum and Library Services.
“We have to pay the total up front, and then we are given half of it back as a grant for the project,” Tammy explained. The total bill for the project was more than $64,000.
“We are extremely thankful for our community, and we appreciate every donation, no matter how small. Your funds help us to be a good member of the community and a good steward of the resources we have here in order to help as many people as possible,” Tammy said.
So when you visit the book sale next week be sure to drop your spare change into the donation bucket, leave a couple of bucks behind, and know that your donation is going towards something good in the local community.
