FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY CHALLENGES THE COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN $BUCKS FOR BOOKS$

The Friends of the Library wil donate $1,000 to the Bluffton Public Library to purchase new books this winter.

This will kick off the library's $Bucks for $Books campaign to offset the reduction in state funding to the library budget this coming year. The library hopes to raise $5,000 by the end of 2010. That is the approximate amount the budget for new books was cut. This early Christmas present from the Friends will jump start this fund raising drive.

The Friends were able to make this donation from funds raised through used book sales, bake sales, the spring tea and the community garage sale.

Some of the books to be purchased will be publications of the Allen County Genealogy Society. The library staff hopesto add to their sources of records for local cemeteries, births and marriages. They also wish to update the non-fiction sections and enhance the large print and fiction choices.

Any patron to the library can participate in the $Bucks for $Books campaign simply by purchasing an ornament to be hung on the library's Christmas tree. As little as one dollar per patron will add up to a sizable amount if the whole community helps.

According to the Friends of the Library: "Our library is in need of any financial donation for books. The Friends would like to challenge community members and other organizations to help meet the goal of $5,000 for the $Bucks for $Books campaign. We want to thank everyone who is willing to support our local library."