Foundation donates more than 100K to library
Donation will help fund children’s department improvements
Participation in children’s programs is at an all time high at the library. Photo by EMILY CANNING-DEAN
The Library Foundation presented the library with a check for $133,000 March 27. Photo by EMILY CANNING-DEAN
WADSWORTH – Thanks to a generous donation from the Wadsworth Public Library Foundation, the folks at the Wadsworth Public Library will soon be able to move forward with improvement to their children’s section.
The foundation approved a $133,300 donation to the library March 3 during their board meeting. The donation will cover more than half of the cost of the planned improvements of the children’s area. The rest will be paid for through the library’s capital funds.
“It has been our goal for the last five or six years to make a donation of this magnitude,” said Doug Beeman, vice president of the Wadsworth Public Library Foundation. “We have raised money through different fundraising efforts like the Bookin’ 5K race and through donations.”
Library Director Daniel Slife said these funds will help with improvements that are much needed.
“We have seen an increase in participation in our children’s programming over the last three years,” Slife said. “We are at an all-time high and we recognize we are running out of room. There is also a movement among libraries to add interactive literacy play spaces with tactile, hands-on activities. The idea is to add some square footage and move the books and materials to open up space for this type of activity. We want to make the space more accessible for this parent/child interaction. We are also planning on doing a coat of fresh paint to lighten up the space and we plan to move the children’s reference desk to the top of the stairs for better visibility and improved customer service.”
Slife said the plan is to have work on the improvements begin this summer.
“But we want to stress that all of our summer reading programming will be moving forward as planned,” he said. “That is one of our most popular programs and there will be no interference with that.”
Tim Manion, president of the Wadsworth Library Foundation, said the organization works to help the library offer programs and materials above and beyond what tax dollars can fund.
“Last year we purchased a van for the library,” he said. “We will also help to fund things like the summer reading program or other special events above and beyond what the library can do with taxpayer dollars.”
“We do little things to help the library throughout the year,” Beeman said. “But it is rare to be able to give a donation like this one.”
The foundation approved a $133,300 donation to the library March 3 during their board meeting. The donation will cover more than half of the cost of the planned improvements of the children’s area. The rest will be paid for through the library’s capital funds.
“It has been our goal for the last five or six years to make a donation of this magnitude,” said Doug Beeman, vice president of the Wadsworth Public Library Foundation. “We have raised money through different fundraising efforts like the Bookin’ 5K race and through donations.”
Library Director Daniel Slife said these funds will help with improvements that are much needed.
“We have seen an increase in participation in our children’s programming over the last three years,” Slife said. “We are at an all-time high and we recognize we are running out of room. There is also a movement among libraries to add interactive literacy play spaces with tactile, hands-on activities. The idea is to add some square footage and move the books and materials to open up space for this type of activity. We want to make the space more accessible for this parent/child interaction. We are also planning on doing a coat of fresh paint to lighten up the space and we plan to move the children’s reference desk to the top of the stairs for better visibility and improved customer service.”
Slife said the plan is to have work on the improvements begin this summer.
“But we want to stress that all of our summer reading programming will be moving forward as planned,” he said. “That is one of our most popular programs and there will be no interference with that.”
Tim Manion, president of the Wadsworth Library Foundation, said the organization works to help the library offer programs and materials above and beyond what tax dollars can fund.
“Last year we purchased a van for the library,” he said. “We will also help to fund things like the summer reading program or other special events above and beyond what the library can do with taxpayer dollars.”
“We do little things to help the library throughout the year,” Beeman said. “But it is rare to be able to give a donation like this one.”
