One of the cool things about working with CML is the reach it has across Columbus communities. This week alone I spent time at the Dublin, Gahanna, Northside, and Main branches. I saw Dublin’s community buzzing back to life with kids taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge and highly utilized shared workspaces. Midweek, I attended the Gahanna groundbreaking ceremony to kick off the construction of a brand-new branch for the town. Then yesterday our team welcomed some dedicated donors to the Northside branch where they told us their story of starting their business in the study rooms that now bear their names.

There are so many moving parts within this organization and the 23-branch library system. So, these opportunities to get out from behind the computer and talk to people at the branches are really fulfilling. Every experience seems to reiterate the transformative role of the library and how much people trust that its resources will always be available to them. Our team at the Foundation knows that fundraising is critical to ensuring this remains true. And this week we prepared mailings for CML’s upcoming annual gala, Celebration of Learning. The event will host author Jacqueline Woodson in November and attendees will be supporting programs that tax revenue does not cover. We packaged copies of Woodson’s book, Brown Girl Dreaming, to share with last year’s event attendees and more copies will be distributed to teens participating in Teen Read Week programs this November. Part of the book takes place in Columbus, and I’ve just added it to my reading list. You should consider picking a copy up at your local library too!  

Till next week,

Amy