The Friends of the Mercer Public Library have launched their 2020 membership drive. The following letter was sent to those on the Friends of the Library mailing list.
June 22, 2020
Dear Mercer Library supporters,
As the Friends of the Mercer Library begin our annual membership drive, we understand how the pandemic has re-shaped our lives, and we hope you are well and coping with the challenges. We rely on your contributions to keep our library special and to pay for programs and projects not covered by the town budget, but if this is a bad time for you, we understand. Either way we know you care, as you are part of our library family, and we appreciate your ongoing support.
We believe in our library now more than ever to provide reliable information about the world around us. For the past few months our rooms have been empty and quiet, but Teresa and Renie worked hard to keep the community together and informed with frequent newsletters, online classes and meetings, grown-up story hour, curbside pickup of library materials and more. The library reopened to the public on Monday, June 15, with some new procedures in place to help protect our community and our library staff.
This past year the Friends paid for library programs, our movie license, and the Book Page magazine. We also purchased a new bike rack, a computer, a couple of trees, and we paid for the design portion of the outdoor reading/gathering area, a project we hope to begin next year. We plan to purchase outdoor furniture this year so that more patrons can sit safely outside to read or access the internet. We have also purchased prizes for the library’s summer reading challenges from local businesses.
Sadly, we made the decision to cancel the September Fall Celebration fundraiser since it just doesn’t seem wise to host a large gathering yet. But plans are already underway to make the 2021 Fall Celebration better than ever. Back by popular demand, the Friends will once again do the cooking, working with local restaurants—this time a German menu. And of course, we’re also planning auctions and other surprise events.
This membership drive will be our only fundraiser this year, so we hope we can still count on you for donations. Besides cash donations the Friends can accept donations of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. Check with your financial advisor about donating directly from an IRA to waive taxes. The Friends of the Mercer Library is a qualified nonprofit, 501(c)3 corporation. For information call library director, Teresa Schmidt, at 715-476-2366.
CLICK HERE for a Friends of the Mercer Library membership form
Thank you, as always, for your support and please know how much you are appreciated. Stay well, everyone. We hope to see you soon.
The Friends of the Mercer Public Library
Wendy Thiede, president
Judy Ivey, vice president
Patt Moses, secretary
Opal Roberts, treasurer
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Please note: The Friends of the Library is a 501(c)(3) organization, legally independent from the Mercer Public Library, a department of the Town of Mercer, Iron County, Wisconsin. Due to statutes governing the privacy of library records, the Mercer Library does not share its cardholders list with the Friends of the Mercer Public Library. If you do not receive a letter from the Friends this summer, it’s because you have not donated the the Friends of the Library in the last three or more years. If you are unable to donate to the Friends this year but would like to be placed on their mailing list, please email director@dev.mercerpubliclibrary.org and provide your email address and mailing address, or ask at the library. Thank you for your support!