Greenfield Library Century Club Drive under way
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By Carmen Ensinger
It is that time of year again – time for the Greenfield Public Library’s Century Club fundraiser. This year marks the 21st year for the library’s major fundraiser.
For those unfamiliar with this fundraiser, anyone who donates $100 to the library becomes a member of the Century Club. Library Board President Amy Turpin explained how the fundraiser began.
“The Century Club was the brainchild of Bruce Haven in 2004,” she said. “His idea was to have an ongoing source of income to provide long term funding for the library. He supported the library and served on the board for several years.”
The only source of revenue for the library is the roughly $12,000 it receives from real estate property taxes every year. The rest of their funding must be obtained through grants and fundraising.
“The Century Club is made up of individuals and businesses who support and promote the library for an annual tax-deductible donation of $100,” Turpin said. “You see some of the same names year after year, but you also see some new names as adults who enjoyed the library as a child now have children of their own and want to support the library.”
Each year, the Century Club continues to grow. Former Greenfield residents who now reside in other states have committed to become a part of the Century Club and help their hometown library. The money raised has been put to very good use.
“Many of the physical improvements made to the library have come from funds raised by the Century Club,” Turpin said. “This includes new flooring, painting the walls and purchasing new shelving units to organize the office and storage areas to be more user friendly for library and volunteer staff.”
This project was completed in April of 2024 and since then the most heard comment for those who haven’t visited in a while is that the library looks so much brighter.
“If you haven’t visited the library in a while, you are always welcome to stop in and take a look at what has been accomplished through your donations,” Turpin said. “Because your donation helps in maintaining the library long term, more time and energy can be devoted to our mission – making the library a gathering place for discovering, learning, creating and connecting.”
Turpin said they are very grateful for the financial support they have received which has helped maintain the library as a vital part of the community for the past 21 years. Everyone who donates $100 or more will have their name printed on a scroll that will be on display in the library.
