Support from Niagara Falls community helps keep library going

Column written by John Anstruther, longtime Niagara Falls Public Library Board member and serves as vice-chair, originally published in Niagara this Week on Thursday, November 24.

A library is more than a place to hold a bunch of books. As a longtime Niagara Falls Public Library Board member, I know we love our books and that libraries are vital to any community. We provide essential services to those who need them most, and we can’t do that without your support.

Many people believe municipal taxes pay for everything a public library does. That may have been true many years ago, but it’s no longer the case. Libraries, like Niagara Falls Public Library, must now depend on other grants and donations from businesses and individuals in our community to be able to provide the high level of service our customers deserve.

Relying solely on government funding would mean limited materials on our shelves. It would mean fewer programs. Hours may have to be reduced. These are all things we want to keep from happening, and we need your help to make sure we’re able to continue to serve you, our supportive customers.

Giving Tuesday, which falls on Nov. 29 this year, kicks the holiday fundraising season into high gear. The decade-old global movement encourages everyone to help others in their community, whether that’s by donating their time or money.

We’re taking part in Giving Tuesday this year and are focusing our fundraising efforts on something we know is extremely important to our community: the renovation of the Stamford Centre Library.

But we’re going to need your help. By donating to the Stamford Centre Library Campaign, you’ll not only help us complete the necessary renovations and revitalize the Stamford Centre location but you’ll support services of the Niagara Falls Public Library for years to come.

One-time and monthly donations can be made online on the Library's CanadaHelps page here: nfpl.info/CanadaHelps. We can also accept one-time donations via cheque, cash, or debit or credit card at any of our locations.

In this lead-up to Giving Tuesday and the holiday season, we also want to say thank you to all who have donated in the past and to those who continue to support us year after year. Thank you to everyone who regularly comes into one of our locations and to those who may only visit on occasion. You’re all important to us and you’re why we continue to work so hard to make Niagara Falls Public Library the absolute best it can be.

We hope you’ll choose to support us this year with a monetary donation. Your contribution will make amazing things happen at Niagara Falls Public Library, which, in turn, will help our community as a whole grow stronger and better than ever.