It's fundraising time!

September is when we send out our annual letter asking for donations for the library. Since we're a 501(c)3 non-profit we are more dependent on local donations than most other libraries. We raise local funds for our operating budget, not extras. It's vitally important that our community continues to support the library with contributions if we are to continue to provide the services that everyone has come to enjoy.

For those of you who didn't receive a letter, here's what we said:

Greetings,

Since this is Chris Scott’s second year as library board president, and he had already written one of these letters, he asked me if I’d like to write it this year. I jumped at the chance.

This year the library has faced challenges as budget cuts have hit us again and again.
We understand that the cuts are happening because of a larger problem with loss of revenue across the state. Difficult economic times are hitting everyone and we realize there is less discretionary income to go around. Gas and food come first. However, hard times are when libraries really prove their worth.

When economic times are tough people seek ways to cut expenses. Books and web sites that preach frugality and debt reduction nearly always publish lists of ways to economize. On almost every one of these lists you’ll find, “Use your public library.” Libraries can save the expense of buying books, renting DVDs, and paying for internet service. In your library you can search for a better job, find books to help you improve your current job skills, or plan to start your own business. Libraries offer programs for an educational and/or entertaining evening out. Libraries are a fun and exciting destination for families with children.

This library is here for you when you need it, and recently you’ve been making good use of it. Our Summer Reading Program for the children had the most registrants ever this year, 102.
We had more children than ever complete their reading logs and return them. We had the largest attendance for a library program ever (sixty-five) when The Wildlife Center of Virginia brought their snakes and box turtle for “Scales and Tails.” In the month of July we posted the highest number of items checked out ever (3405). In our 2007-2008 fiscal year, which ended June 30th, we had our highest number of items ever checked out in a year (28,429). That’s twelve items checked out for every person in Highland County.

So that the library may continue to serve you at the level you’ve come to expect, I ask that you please consider investing in your library with your donation. The library is one place where you can enjoy an immediate return on investment and you’ll be helping the larger community.
To quote an American Library Association saying which is posted in our library, “Libraries will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no libraries.”

Sincerely,
Tomi Herold
Library Director

If you'd like to make a donation our address is listed at the top of the right side information bar.