 Annual Fund Appeal
Dear Friend of the Library:
I am writing on behalf of the Board of Directors to thank you for
considering a gift in support of the San Mateo Public Library
through the Library Foundation. Community support has made a
difference—in the private funding raised for the construction of
the Library, new additions to the print and media collections,
support for adult literacy through Project Read, and increased
programming enjoyed by so many. Our new Library is truly our
community’s “living room” and an important part of the lives of
our communities’ residents, whether from San Mateo, Hillsborough,
or elsewhere. Over 2,300 residents use the Library each day. There
are 65,000 Library card holders, a significant majority of our
population. You can be proud of your Library and the difference it
makes!
In this time of economic challenges and uncertainty, many may ask
“why should I support the Library when there are so many needs in
our community?” First, the Library is the only community service
which is available to everyone for free – a resource center for
those doing a job search, business or biotechnology research, or
catching up on the world news in print. Free activities for all
include story times, film showings, an extensive DVD movie
collection, and an eclectic and popular author and speaker series.
Second, the Library is an environment where members of our
community can “step into another world” for a few minutes, an
hour, or longer. For many, it is a safety net, a place of solace
and quiet. For all of us, it is a place to explore, to travel to
another world, and to enjoy the beauty of the written word.
Certainly our country’s economic challenges are great right now. I
see the impact on so many of our communities’ residents as I enter
the Library’s doors throughout the week. Computer usage has
increased; there are more people seeking information in the
Business Resource Center. The Library’s newspapers are being read
by more people. And, there is a waiting list for Project Read’s
adult literacy tutoring services. Won’t you help continue the
community support for our Library beyond what the Cities of San
Mateo and Hillsborough are able to budget?
We appreciate your support - together, we have made a difference
and will continue to do so. We hope that we can count on your
support—it’s needed now more than ever. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Pam Casey
President, San Mateo Public Library Foundation
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