$10k Gift for Canton Public Library

With a great big smile, Larry Hoelscher handed over a $10,000 check to Canton Public Library trustee Michael Siegrist and library director Eva Davis at Wednesday evening's annual meeting of Friends of the Canton Public Library.

Hoelscher, Friends' treasurer and outgoing Friends' President Peg Britz, made the check presentation. The money is intended for the library’s endowment fund and was raised with book sales and other efforts by the volunteers. Over the last year, Friends of the Canton Public Library members have given more than $64,000.

The volunteer group sponsors library programs and events, including this year's wildly popular "Connect Your Summer," which offers library patrons the chance to earn badges by doing more than 100 activities. The Friends' members have also helped purchase materials for library collections, including Michigan history and international languages.

"Given the reduced revenue over the last few years, the library has been forced to evaluate our priorities and make difficult decisions. We are truly blessed to have the army of volunteers and supplemental financing for programming that the Friends offer, making those decisions that much easier," said Siegrist.

Hoelscher stressed that the support the Friends provide comes from the community. “Our income comes mainly from the sale of pre-owned books at the Secondhand Prose Bookstore. Supporting the store and a membership in the Friends will help us continue to support your library.” For more information on Secondhand Prose or the Friends, visit the bookstore or the Friends' webpage.