Dear
Fellow Leonian,
We
need your help. Now more than ever.
As
I am sure you know, we are facing a significant reduction in our
budget. The Mayor and Council are proposing a $103,000 cut from last
year’s appropriation which, given the mandated increases
(healthcare, BCCLS fee, etc.), is in reality an approximately
$125,000 cut.
This
means cutting staff, and therefore services, as well as purchases of
books, CDs and DVDs.
The
Board of Trustees has heard our fellow citizens speak in glowing
terms about our library. You have praised our new director and the
programs he has brought to the library. You refer to the library as
being the heart and soul of the community. We are uplifted by your
words while also saddened by the cuts. We want to find a way to
lessen the impact on the services you have come to expect. For that
we need your personal generosity.
Will
YOU help us?
We
are challenging you to dig deep and give. We are looking for the
following:
10
donors of $1000 or more 10 donors of $750 - 999 15
donors of $500 - 749
50
donors of $250 - 499 100 donors of $100 – 249 250 donors under
100
This
is the I Love Leonia Library campaign. We know that we cannot
expect this level of giving every year but we are looking for
something extra this year.
100%
of the money raised in this campaign will fund items that otherwise
would be cut. Our goal is to raise $100,000 and ask the Mayor and
Council to find $.25 for every $1.00 contributed ($25,000 on our
target). The Library Board controls funds from donations, fines,
etc. We will contribute money from that fund (previously earmarked
for technology upgrades) to supplement what we need up to $40,000.
This would be a true public-private partnership with the borough, its
citizens and the Library Board. Together we can keep your
library functioning at the level you want.
We
have made every effort to reduce costs and will continue discussions
with the Mayor and the Borough Council to try to reinstate whatever
we can in next year’s budget. We are optimistic in the Mayor’s
efforts to increase borough revenue.
But
we need you now. In honor of these special gifts, any donations of
$100 or over will be placed on a commemorative plaque in the library.
All donations will be recognized, as every dollar is important.
We
thank you.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth
A. Carillo
President,
Board of Trustees
P.S.
Please make your check payable to Leonia Public Library and mail it
in the enclosed envelope. Or click here to Donate Online. Donations are tax deductible to the
extent allowed by law.
BOARD
OF TRUSTEES
Elizabeth
Carillo, President; Arnold Trachtenberg, Treasurer; Phyllis Dain,
Secretary; John Kendrick, Susan Boyd, Brad Wilds, Mary Heveran; Judah
Zeigler, Mayor; H. Philip Zeigler, Mayor’s Alternate; Joanne
Megargee, Superintendent of Schools; Julie Diemer, Superintendent’s
Alternate; Bernadette Flaim, Council Liaison
Matthew
Latham, Library Director
