WHY WE ASK YOU FOR MONEY

The Southwest Harbor Public Library is a free public library. This means that everyone who walks into the Library can check out books, read all the newspapers and magazines, use the Internet stations, and call on our Staff for assistance at no charge.

Our Library is an excellent and well-loved community library. In a town with 2,000 year round residents, the Library has over 75,000 patron visits a year. Among all Maine public libraries, we are Number #1 in library visits per capita, Number #3 in total circulation per capita, and Number #2 in children’s program attendance per capita.

HOW DO WE PAY FOR THIS EXCELLENCE?

Click on the Picture Gallery button on the left to see how our volunteers began this campaign.

The taxpayers of the Town of Southwest Harbor generously vote each year at Town Meeting to give the Library an appropriation. Currently, this is 20% of our annual budget. Each year, we must make our case to the Town that the Library continues to be a vital community resource.

The Annual Appeal of the Library raises 45% of our funds. Each year, we ask the community to donate substantially to our operations, and each year some 700-800 generous people help us to reach our goal.

Fund raising events bring in 15% of our budget. Hundreds of volunteers spend thousands of hours working on our events, which include book sales each year, and a silent auction, an art auction, and a garden tour on an every other year schedule.

Library revenue, which includes fines, late fees, and copier and fax charges, brings in 5% of our budget.

Income from endowment amounts to 15% of our budget. The Library has an historically small endowment, which we are working hard to grow. As you can see, we are heavily dependent on annual fund raising to meet our budget.

YOU CAN HELP US by volunteering to work in the Library, by volunteering to help with fund raising events, and by contributing to the Annual Appeal and the endowment. Just ask any member of the Staff.

This shelf of books is actually the Donor Wall
honoring gifts to the Library for the 2000 addition.
Each patron has named his or her own "book"…and now…
all the "shelves" are filled!

HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE LIBRARY

The support of the community is vital to the Library. We are a free public library, but must raise over 80% of our funds from you. We cheerfully accept gifts of cash, securities, books, other objects, and even real property. You can make gifts to the Annual Appeal, as memorial gifts, or to the endowment. All contributions to the Southwest Harbor Public Library are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Annual Appeal

40% of the Library’s budget must be raised each year through the Annual Appeal. This is a yearlong campaign, and donations can be made at any time. We send mailings to all persons on the West Side of Mount Desert Island, as well as to individual patrons and supporters. In addition, our Board members call donors, both to solicit gifts and to thank donors.

Memorial Gifts

The Library has a long tradition of receiving memorial gifts. These may be in memory of a family member, a friend, or a Library patron. Unless otherwise designated, we deposit all monetary memorial gifts in our endowment, as a permanent gift to the Library.

Endowment Fund

The Library has undertaken a continuing campaign to raise our historically modest endowment. Building the endowment is vital for the future financial security of the Library, and for providing improved services to the community. Gifts are welcome at any time. Larger gifts and pledges will be recognized on Endowment Wall. Please contact the Library Director for further information.

Our new Endowment Donor Wall
honoring gifts to the Library Endowment.
Each patron's name is shown on its own wooden boat plaque
surrounding the boat model.

Non-monetary gifts

The Library is glad to accept gifts of books at any time. Gifts of other tangible objects are accepted at the discretion of the Library Director, and with the approval of the Board. The Library does not make appraisals of gifts. Gifts of marketable real estate are subject the Board approval.

Volunteer support

Volunteers are essential to Library operations. There are numerous opportunities to work in the Library, to help with fund raising events, and for service on the Board. We always need more volunteers.

The Friends of the Library are a vital support group. The Friends raise funds to purchase goods and services not covered in the operating budget. The Friends conduct the annual plant sale in the spring, weekly teas in the winter, and the raffle of quilts and other items. The Friends have purchased furniture, tapes and DVDs. They have supported staff enrollment in outside educational opportunities.

For more information on supporting the Southwest Harbor Public Library, please contact Candy Emlen, Library Director.

THANK YOU!