2012 Reasons to be Thankful

Washington County Library Partners just handed over a check to the Washington County Library for $14,700 — and they're already ordering the books! There are so many people to thank ... but let me focus on one.

That would be the person (or, it could be a couple) who provided a $7,000 matching grant.  hey requested to remain anonymous — and even I don't know for sure who it is (only our treasurer knows for sure and she isn't telling). 

But I do know our donor is not a rich person. But the donor really, really believes in the mission of public libraries — and in particular, the donor really believes our county deserves the best possible library system. 

That was true of ALL our donors, who contributed everything from $10 to $500.  And it's true of what I believe: Washington County has a very good library system — but it could become great. The "2012 in 2012" campaign is just one step towards that great system.

Another step came, by the way, when the county commissioners decided to find the money to reopen the libraries on Mondays. It's not a small amount of money to open all the branches an extra day — about $260,000 — but the commissioners heard from enough people that being closed on Monday was simply not the library system we want.

So thanks to all of you — whether you sent us a check or contacted the commissioners — or both!