Making Your Library Beautiful

We want you to be proud of your Library building. Currently, the exterior is quite ugly since it has had little to no maintenance. However, the Friends of the Library embarked on an ambitious fundraising drive to raise the necessary funds for the renovations. Based on prior estimates, we set $30,000 as our goal - and we want the work finished by October 2012 when the Mississippi Library Association comes to Natchez.

We have more than achieved our goal! An anonymous donor offered us a challenge grant. If we could raise $15,000, they would match it. The Krewe of Fat Mamas partnered with the Friends and raised $4400. The Rotary Club of Natchez donated $5000. The Adopt a Shutter and Buy Your Library a Can of Paint raised $10,500. Along with some general donations (a couple as large as $500), we have raised a total of $19,760. Add that to the $15,000 from the challenge grant, and we have $34,760.

Although the Friends of the Library will be paying the bills, the City of Natchez must find and select the contractors. The City Inspector, who is in charge of this project, has told us it will cost far more than the $30,000 we originally estimated. (It seems these projects always seem to cost more than you expect!) So we are continuing to raise money. However, we have asked the City to proceed with awarding the contract and beginning the work. Hopefully, you will soon see people at work on the renovations!

As you may be able to tell from this picture (you can click on it to make it larger), we have two "parents" for each shutter. However, two donors wish to remain anonymous, so we have room for two more. But hurry, because they will be adopted soon!

We have raised $1,675 toward the $2,000 goal of paint donors, and we would love to add your name to the board.

Both of these boards are on display in the lobby of the Library, and we urge you to come see the names of all the members in our community who have contributed to make our Library beautiful again. We are overwhelmed by the awesome response!