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| Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske's annual "Library Round Up" that encourages residents to "round up spare change" was expanded this year city-wide. The city-wide I Love My Public Library collection drive netted $1000 in total donations which will be presented to the Friends of the Long Beach Public Library at Tuesday's City Council meeting. In February the Long Beach City Council voted to place collection boxes in every Long Beach Public Library to raise funds to help with purchase of books and materials for The City's libraries. The City has had to cut back on the materials and events budget of our libraries for the past several years, and the I Love My Public Library collection drive helps fill in that gap. "When we started this annual drive to raise money for the Library's summer reading program, in the Fifth District with local businesses and the Ruth Bach and El Dorado Neighborhood Libraries, it was a way to help the two libraries provide materials that budget cuts would not have otherwise been possible," explained Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, "this year when the entire City Council voted to make this spare change drive, a city-wide event, it demonstrated how important our libraries are to the entire community." Library Round Up collection boxes were placed at the library for the months of February - April (National Library Month). Patrons of The City's libraries donated money by adding their spare change to the collection boxes when they visited. "We're thrilled to have the support of the entire City Council for our Libraries, which in turn supports our community's residents," said Long Beach Public Library Director, Glenda Williams. The funds collected by the Friends of the Long Beach Public Libraries will be disbursed appropriately. Friends of the Long Beach Public Libraries also hosted a series of events during this same time period entitled: I Love My Public Library, to encourage residents to show their support of public libraries by getting involved in helping our local libraries. The I Love My Public Library fundraising effort at all Long Beach libraries was a great success. In past years, the spare change collected was donated to the Friends of the Long Beach Public Libraries which in turn contributed funds to restore an entire paperback book collection and hosted several children's events. Libraries collected $800.09, and an additional $200 was donated through other sources. Libraries collected as follows: Main Branch: $109.79 Alamitos: $52.40 Ruth Bach $74.40 Bay Shore $94.27 Brewitt $31.56 Burnett $ .53 Dana $55.20 El Dorado $134.05 Bret Harte $65.60 Los Altos $63.67 Mark Twain $53.00 North $65.62 Outside Donations $200.00 |
Donate to Your Local Library
More information about the I Love My Library project, please contact the Office of Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske at 562-570-6932, or Director of the Long Beach Public Library, Glenda Williams, at 562-570-6016. For more information on how to make a donation to the Friends of the Long Beach Public Library, go to: Friends of the Long Beach Public Library.
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