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Click here for printable donation form |
| Van Kozelka Director |
November 2011 |
| Board of
Trustees Ed Baum, Susan Sandlund, Doug McLaughlin, Missy Swan, Frank Veith, Jude Blundell Nathalie Dwyer Andrew Kuhn Martha McDermott Susan Scofield Vivian Song Robin Tropiano |
Dear Friends
and Neighbors, "Indispensable." A "lifeline." "I am so glad you're open!" After the recent freak blizzard and Tropical Storm Irene, record numbers of visitors turned to the Katonah Village Library for shelter, power, web access and the chance to connect with neighbors. Their words express the vital role that our Library plays, whatever the conditions, in the greater Katonah community. You can help the Library continue to fulfill its mission of enriching the lives of all Katonah residents. We urge you to donate to the 2012 Annual Operating Appeal. Please give whatever you can by completing the enclosed form today. Our financial challenges increase every year. In 2011, thirty cents of every dollar needed to operate the Library came form supporter and friends like you. Last year that portion was just 20 cents. Put another way, every hour of operation costs $304. This year, we must collect $84 of that amount, largely from private contributions. In 2010, the comparable figure was $56. We manage our finances carefully. We have lowered our energy bills, switched utility providers and replaced insurance carriers. These are just a few of the reasons why we operate one of the most efficient libraries in the county. But we are most proud of the growing selection of materials, services and cultural programs that we offer to all residents. Thanks in part to community donations, this year we expanded our collection of books, periodicals and DVDs to nearly 75,000 items. We added technology resources including a new Internet station and introduced a free music download service called Freegal. Our newly-renovated Children's Room won praise from visitors of all ages. Collaborating with our wonderful partner organizations including the Katonah Village Improvement Society, the Katonah Poetry Series and the Katonah Museum of Art, our meeting rooms buzzed with poetry readings, author book signings, live concerts and film screenings. As you well know, these offereings, and the dedicated staff and comfortable surroundings needed to manage and house them, come at an increasing cost. We know that we can count on you to help the Library continue to deliver the services, resources and support that our community has come to cherish. The Board of Trustees and staff of the Library thank you for your unwavering support. We look forward to another successful year of community service in 2012.
Sincerely, Ed Baum Van Kozelka President, Board of Trustees Director |
updated November 29, 2011
