The Stark Library Foundation invites the community to participate in Dive into Reading, a virtual fundraiser to support Stark Library.
The Dive into Reading event will begin on Thursday, July 1, and culminate in a virtual presentation on Thursday, July 15 at 7 pm. Participants can relax, read, bid on silent auction items, and support the Stark Library from the comfort of their favorite easy chair, backyard or other happy place.
Proceeds from the event will support high-priority needs and special projects of the Stark Library, such as the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which promotes early literacy by mailing a free book every month until a child is 5 years old. $25 is enough to fund one child for a year.
Over the past year, Stark Library has provided support to community members facing job losses, healthcare crises, remote work and learning during an unprecedented and challenging time. In spite of the challenges, more than 416,000 people walked through Stark Library's doors in 2020. In addition, the Library worked creatively to provide a wide range of in-person and virtual opportunities to people of all ages. In 2020:
- 3,939 after school meals were provided to children in need
- 6,273 kids received 33,543 books through the Stark County Imagination Library program
- 561,593 eMaterials were borrowed, a 13% increase
- The Jackson Community Branch opened in August
“We are incredibly fortunate to have a nationally recognized library that provides such a broad range of critical services and resources to our community members, even during the most challenging of times,” said Stark Library Foundation President Mary Calnon. “Through Stark Library’s excellence, learning opportunities and lives are truly enhanced here every day.”
