Library Foundation Announces $2.75 Million Campaign

The Tompkins County Public Library Foundation has announced a $2.75 million goal for its 21st Century Library Campaign.

More than 200 people packed the Library's Avenue of the Friends Saturday evening for an after-hours celebration feting the launch of the campaign.  The event, emceed by syndicated columnist and author Amy Dickinson, included remarks from campaign co-chairs Aloja Airewele, outgoing president of the Library's Board of Trustees, community advocate and storyteller, Tompkins Cortland Community College President Carl Haynes, Jean McPheeters, owner of Jean McPheeters Consulting LLC and retired president of the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce, Ithaca College President Tom Rochon and Joel Malina, Cornell University's Vice President of University Relations, representing Co-Chair David Skorton, president of Cornell University and secretary-elect of the Smithsonian Institute.

Guests were treated to literary-themed refreshments prepared by the students of Tompkins Cortland Community College's Coltivare--under the direction of Cayuga Medical Center Executive Chef Jim Durkee-- music by Johnny Russo and Friends and an opportunity to learn about the campaign goals by visiting staff-run stations throughout the library.

The 21st Century Library Campaign is designed to help TCPL respond to evolving community needs.  Goals for the campaign include the creation of a digital learning lab, an expanded Teen Services offering, collection development and to support the Library Foundation's Annual Fund and endowment.

Suzanne Smith Jablonski, executive director of the Library Foundation said $2.08 million has already been raised during the quiet phase of the campaign, with lead gifts from Tom and Loren Colbert, Elissa Cogan and Barry Chester, a bequest from Edward Smith, two estate gifts, and a recent anonymous contribution.

"The quiet phase of the campaign has again showed us how important the library is to our community," Smith Jablonski said.  "We have been humbled by the generosity of our donors thus far and are confident that the community will embrace the campaign for the future of our amazing library."

The campaign will run through 2016.  For more information, or to support the campaign, visit http://www.tcplfoundation.org/ or contact Smith Jablonski at (607) 272-4557 extension 231.