Love Your Library campaign raises a record-breaking $1.23 million for Allegheny County Libraries during the month of September

Love Your Library

The Jack Buncher Foundation provides match to support literacy and learning

 

During September’s annual Love Your Library campaign, Allegheny County libraries raised a record-breaking $1.23 million in charitable

LYL Proclamation

contributions, more than any previous year. Of this amount, almost $772,000, the largest amount of eligible funds ever raised, is eligible for a prorated match from $200,000 in matching contributions from the Jack Buncher Foundation.

Now in its sixth year, the Love Your Library campaign continues to raise money to support essential services provided by county libraries, including collections, literacy programs and much, much more.

More than 7,450 donors contributed to the campaign, including almost 1,600 new donors.

“Our library supporters continue to express their appreciation for the valuable resources and programs provided by our community libraries,” said Amy Anderson, Chief Executive Officer of ACLA. “We are grateful for the contributions of each individual and the unwavering financial support of the Jack Buncher Foundation.”

“As libraries continue to welcome patrons back in our spaces, we are incredibly grateful for the support from our community,” said Mary Frances Cooper, President and Director of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. “Countywide, library supporters help put books in the hands of children and teens, provide assistance to job seekers and small business owners and make technology and electronic resources available to everyone in our community. The growth of the Love Your Library campaign inspires our work in providing services that are critical to literacy and learning.”

Since its inception, the Love Your Library campaign has raised more than $5.26 million for Allegheny County libraries. This special drive coincides with the American Library Association’s National Library Card Sign-Up Month.

Although libraries traditionally have received public funds to support basic operations, state funding for libraries has been reduced or remained flat for much of the past decade. Local funding for libraries in Allegheny County varies greatly from one municipality to another.

Libraries reported that the Love Your Library campaign continues to reinforce the importance of library services in our community and the need for support. For some libraries, this was a major step towards a new or improved fundraising effort. Many libraries have increased their efforts to raise funds from individuals, corporations and foundations, relying more on such philanthropic support to fund essential library services, improve facilities and offer new programs.