Yes – you DO love your libraries!  With the generous support of the Jack Buncher Foundation, the 46 libraries in Allegheny County raised $660,615 of qualifying funds during September 2018’s Love Your Library campaign – an increase of more than $30,000 over last year. With the Foundation’s match of $150,000 – .23 per dollar raised – libraries will benefit from more than $810,000 in charitable donations from this year’s campaign.

This was the third year of Love Your Library, which began in 2016 as a first of its kind countywide initiative developed to encourage residents to make a gift to their local library. Since its inception, the Love Your Library campaign has raised more than $2.2 million for Allegheny County libraries, an incredible testament to how much our residents love their libraries!

Donations and matching funds will be used for essential library services, facility improvements and public programming. These gifts support libraries as catalysts that spark learning, creativity and exploration.

Twenty-three libraries (50%) reported an increase in total donations over last year and twenty libraries reported more donors than last year. In all, 5,713 donors contributed and 21% of those were new donors.

The overwhelming success of the campaign proves people in our area love their libraries. The Jack Buncher Foundation’s support of the Love Your Library campaign underscores the value of libraries as community assets, worthy of such generosity.

Thank you for loving your libraries!