Library to Celebrate Campaign Conclusion, Unveil LEGO Model

Tompkins County Public Library, in partnership with the Tompkins County Public Library Foundation, will host a public celebration marking the conclusion of the 21^st Century Library Campaign, including a public unveiling of its much-acclaimed LEGO library, from 4 to 6 p.m., Saturday, June 18.

“This will be a fun-filled celebration of our 21^st Century Library Campaign,” said Suzanne Smith Jablonski, executive director of the Tompkins County Public Library Foundation, “as well as an opportunity for us to thank those who have and continue to support the programs, collections and services of our public library.”

The celebration, which will include literary-themed refreshments, a geocaching activity and prize drawings, will not only feature an update on the progress of the Campaign, which is slated to conclude at the end of the month, but will also offer an opportunity for library patrons and community members to share in the historic unveiling of the LEGO model completed during the Library’s LEGO Build.

With support from the Foundation, dozens of volunteers—and more than 100,000 LEGO bricks—families, individuals, businesses, clubs and service organizations helped, over the course of six weeks, to construct a 7 ½-foot by 7 ½-foot replica of the library, including the upcoming additions of a state-of-the-art teen center and digital learning lab, made possible by the 21^st Century Library Campaign.

The TCPL LEGO Build marked the first time that a library in United States undertook a community fundraising LEGO build of this size.

Launched in 2014, the 21st Century Library Campaign endeavored to raise $2.75 million to help TCPL respond to evolving community needs, including the creation of a digital learning lab, expanded Teen Services offerings, collection development and to support the Library Foundation's Annual Fund and endowment.

Contributions to the 21^st Century Library Campaign can be made through June 30 by visiting www.tcplfoundation.org or contacting Josiah Jacobus Parker at jjacobusparker@tcpl.org or (607) 272-4557 extension 261.