Thank you for coming to our page to learn more about The Free Library’s funding needs. Here are four things you need to know.
- We have to fundraise to keep The Free Library’s doors open. We must raise between $80,000-$100,000 annually to cover day-to-day operating expenses. We owe a debt of gratitude to our patrons and supporters for helping us reach this goal annually. View our budget chart.
- Our per capita funding is $14.60, yet we deliver $134 per capita in materials and services every year. For $14.60 per capita, we are saving the entire community $1,500,800 each year!
- The Free Library will not stop fundraising. Our all-volunteer Board will continue to raise funds for The Free Library with appeals and events like our Spelling Bee. We will also build our endowment, which our forward-thinking library founders started many years ago.
- Our endowment serves as a safety net now but will be used to enhance services in the future. By building our endowment, The Free Library will have the funds to cover any budget shortfalls and improve services. Our goal is to provide our community with a free public library that will be strong and fiscally sound for another 100 years!
When the world stopped turning during the pandemic, The Free Library kept us all together, providing a sense of normalcy and community through reading materials (both physical and electronic), tech help for those who suddenly found themselves needing to adjust to e-books, virtual programming and home delivery services. The Free Library has weathered many storms during its 103-year history, always remaining the heart of our community.
Thank you for your support!
