State library funding was cut by 43%, a reduction of $6.1 million dollars. Although a restoration of $4.3 million of the proposed $10.4 million cut, this mixed result results in a halving of our per capita state aid to libraries and the consolidation of four regional networks into one. Crucially, sufficient money was restored for the state to receive $6.6 million in federal and Gates Foundation grants. This in no way restores the state aid lost.
Please go to www.savemynjlibrary.org to find out more about the state of libraries in NJ.
Welcome to the Friends of the Madison Public Library
The Friends of the Madison Public Library (FMPL) is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to contributing to the outstanding services provided by the library through volunteer support and supplemental funding for special programming and expanding the collection. Money raised by Friends through our Annual March Gala, Touch a Truck and our Annual Appeal allows the library to provide additional programming that it would otherwise be unable to afford through state and local government contributions alone. The Friends present quarterly gifts to the library where the primary beneficiaries are the children’s programs and the book and media collections. Thank you to the hundreds of families and business in our community that contribute to Friends!
THANK YOU to the 2011 Annual Appeal Donors
We hope you have had a chance to see the poster of the mock thermometer in the library lobby. It’s bursting with books to symbolize the level of contributions which blew the lid off the 2011 Annual Appeal fundraising goal of the Friends of the Madison Public Library. Once again, the Friends would like to give a round of applause to those generous donors who contributed the lead sixteen gifts that challenged the town to match $31,000. Over 350 people responded with an enthusiastic show of support, meeting that challenge and upping the ante to over $39,000. With a 6.5% return on the appeal letter, the final tally for the fund drive was $70,481, proving in no uncertain terms that the library is a cherished part of this community. The proceeds from the fundraising events of the non-profit Friends group support the collection of books, DVDs and music CDs, library programs for children, teens and adults, and technology. The Friends are incredibly grateful to every person who helped make the 2011 Annual Appeal such a huge success. Click HERE for a full list of 2011 Donors.
Thank you to one and all! (more…)