Library News

100G Push to Buy Books Public Asked to Ease Library Woes

By JOYCE SHELBY DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Friday, September 26th 2003, 7:49AM

The Independence Community Foundation is challenging the people of Brooklyn to help buy books for the borough's 60 public libraries.

The foundation has launched a $100,000 Buy a Book campaign and will match, dollar for dollar, every contribution made to buy new books for children, teens, young adults and seniors.

"The library has $4 million less than it did in fiscal [year] '99 to purchase books," said Marilyn Gelber, executive director of the foundation. "This year, the library will purchase 350,000 books less than in 2000 unless we do something."

Officials announced the foundation's challenge yesterday afternoon in the children's wing of the Central Library at Grand Army Plaza.

Ginnie Cooper, executive director of the Brooklyn Public Library, said the library's budget is down about $11.5 million since Sept. 11, 2001. The system has lost 250 staff members and the book budget is down $2.5 million.

Cooper said about 9% of the library's $70 million budget for the current fiscal year will go toward books and other learning materials.

"It should be about 12% to 15%," Cooper said. "There's a new curriculum in the public schools.

"That means new reading materials. We've got to buy those books so kids can find them at the public library."

The campaign also will raise funds to buy large-print books for seniors, Cooper said.

'Literary treasures'

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz encouraged people who live in the borough to contribute to the cause.

"We have the greatest library in the world and we need to keep it that way by stocking its shelves during these challenging fiscal times with all of the latest literary treasures," he said.

People who wish to make a tax-deductible donation to the challenge fund may use envelopes available at all 60 branches of the library.

Envelopes can also be picked up at each of the 19 Brooklyn branches of Independence Community Bank.

"Anyone who comes to the bank to give a gift to the library will get a token of appreciation," Gelber said. "It's a way of getting the word out to buy a book for Brooklyn."

The campaign continues through early November.

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