(The following information was submitted by Clinton County Librarian Gayla Duvall.)

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About the Foundation:

The Libri Foundation was established in 1989 for the sole purpose of helping rural libraries acquire new, quality, hardcover children’s books they could not otherwise afford to buy. Since October 1990, the Foundation has donated over $5.8 million worth of new children’s books to more than 3,000 libraries in all 50 states.

The Foundation supports the concept that children who learn to enjoy reading at an early age continue to read throughout their lives. In order to develop a love of reading, children must have access to books which stretch their imaginations, touch their emotions, expand their horizons.

For many children in rural areas, the local library is often their primary source of reading material. Many rural schools either have no library or the library is inadequate to meet the needs of the students. At a time when more and more children and their parents and teachers are using the public library, these same libraries are facing increasing financial hardships and are unable to buy the books their young readers need.

The Foundation works with the library’s Friends of the Library or other local organizations because we believe in community involvement and want to encourage and reward local support of libraries. The Friends, or other local sponsors, can contribute from $200 to $350 which the Foundation matches on a 2-to-1 ratio. Thus, a library can receive up to $1,050 worth of new, quality, hardcover children’s books through the Foundation’s BOOKS FOR CHILDREN program.

The local librarian, familiar with the needs of the library and the community, selects the books the library will receive from the Foundation’s 600-title booklist, which has been highly praised by participating librarians for the quality and variety of fiction and nonfiction titles offered. The majority of the books have been published within the last three years, but old favorites are also offered. All of the books have been highly recommended by recognized authorities in the library and education fields.

The books donated through the BOOKS FOR CHILDREN program are used for storytelling; toddler, preschool, and after-school programs; summer reading programs; “book buddy” programs in which older children read to younger children; holiday programs; teacher check-out and curriculum support; early childhood development programs; school projects and to just provide children with a “good read.”

Contributions: The goal of the Libri Foundation is to help as many rural libraries as possible through its BOOKS FOR CHILDREN program.

All contributions to The Libri Foundation are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. And all contributions, large or small, are greatly appreciated as “every dollar contributed to The Libri Foundation enables it to donate one dollar’s worth of new, quality, hardcover children’s books to a small, rural public library.” Your financial support can help give a child a gift to last a lifetime–the wonderful world of books.

The Foundation has established a Named Sponsor Program for any individual or organization donating at least $700. Named sponsors may request their donations be used to buy books for a rural library in a particular state or region of the country or simply “where needed.”

Each book donated through the Named Sponsor program has a specially designed bookplate inside. The inscription includes the name of the library’s local sponsor, the Named Sponsor, and The Libri Foundation. Named Sponsors may also choose to honor someone else or may remain anonymous.

Please note: The Libri Foundation does not employ a professional fundraiser nor does it rent, sell, or share the names of its contributors to other organizations or mailing lists. The Foundation does not send repeated appeals for money to its donors nor does it spend their money on gifts, such as address labels, calendars, greeting cards, and other such items. The Foundation uses the money it receives to donate new children’s books to rural public libraries for the enrichment of their young readers.