(Moulton, AL), (November 4, 2024) – This GivingTuesday, the Lawrence County Public Library (LCPL) invites the community to support its mission by participating in a fundraising campaign to enhance library services. On December 3, 2024, LCPL will join millions around the world in a day dedicated to generosity, with the goal of raising $50,000 to fund library operations, support educational programs, improve digital access, and expand its book collection.
A Vital Community Resource at Risk
LCPL is an essential resource in Lawrence County, providing public access to educational materials, digital resources, and programming for children, teens, and adults. However, the library is struggling with financial challenges due to limited funding. Despite serving a population of over 30,000, LCPL receives significantly less funding than other libraries of similar size. For the fiscal year 2023, LCPL’s funding from local government sources was only $72,061, well below the average funding for comparable county libraries, which is over $175,000. After discarding the three highest and lowest funded county and municipal similar-sized libraries in the state, the average local government library funding was $427,500.
The LCPL received $72,000 in fiscal year while increasing to $77,000 in 2024. While grateful for our local government funding, this has not kept pace with inflation and rising operational costs. The library is required to remain open for at least 40 hours per week to be eligible to receive $40,000 in state funding, yet budget constraints have made it increasingly difficult to cover labor, materials, insurance, and utilities.
Support Lawrence County’s Library this GivingTuesday
This year’s GivingTuesday campaign is an opportunity for the community to help bridge the funding gap. “Participating in GivingTuesday allows us to rally the community around the library's mission," said Rex Bain, Executive Director of LCPL. "The generosity of our community will help us continue to offer essential services and programs that educate, empower, and enrich lives here in Lawrence County. Together, we can make a lasting difference."
Since its inception in 2012, GivingTuesday has become a global celebration of giving, empowering individuals and organizations to make an impact within their communities and beyond. Last year alone, GivingTuesday raised billions of dollars for nonprofits worldwide, supporting vital causes and encouraging people to give back.
To learn more or make a donation, visit LCPL’s website, myLCPL.org. For further information on GivingTuesday, please visit www.givingtuesday.org or follow @GivingTuesday and #GivingTuesday on Instagram.
About LCPL
The Lawrence County Public Library has served the residents of Lawrence County, Alabama, since 1961. From its location near downtown Moulton, the library provides access to physical and digital resources, public computers, and programs for all ages. LCPL is funded by the Lawrence County Commission, the City of Moulton, and the State of Alabama.
About GivingTuesday
GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement created in 2012 to inspire people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. This day encourages everyone to do good and has grown into a worldwide movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to support the causes that matter most to them.
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