Newsletter

President's Letter

by Theresa Walske, President

SCLS Foundation Board

There is so much to be proud of our library system. Libraries are a source of stability from friendly words from librarians, availability of books and materials, hope supplied through community projects, computers to complete unemployment applications and job application, and wi-fi that extends to the parking lots allowing for participation in work, school, and medical appointments. These are just a few of the tremendous contributions to our communities. 

Wisconsin Library Legislative Day is in February. This day is an opportunity for individuals across the state to meet with elected officials at the Capitol, share the importance of libraries, and request their legislative support for continued funding and initiatives.

You do not need to participate in the Wisconsin Library Legislative Day to contact your legislators.  I invite you to make a goal this February to do the following. First, thank your librarian and library staff for all the good work they do on a daily basis. Second, call or write your State and Federal elected officials to remind them of the importance of libraries and how your library helps you and your community.  Third, sign up on the South Central Library System website to Speak Up For Your Library. The South Central Library System will reach out to you by email when there is an issue that you should be aware of so that we can all speak up for our libraries. Finally, join me in making a donation to the South Central Library System Foundation. This can be done online from the Foundation website or through the mail.

On behalf of the SCLS Foundation, thank you to all the librarians, library board members, volunteers, and SLSC professionals who make a difference every day as you serve our patrons and communities.  You make a difference.

 

Welcome to Jane Morgan Memorial Library

By Amanda Wakeman

Library Director & SCLS Foundation Trustee

“Cambria has a library?!?” is the response I get most often when I say that I am the Director here. At a population of 756, it is sometimes hard to believe that we have a Library that is open 49 hours with a staff of 4. Thanks to a very supportive community, Village Board, Library Board, and Friends of the Library, Jane Morgan Memorial Library is able to thrive in our small, Columbia County village. We offer weekly story times and a homeschool meetup, as well as monthly craft nights, book clubs, and anything else our patrons may suggest!

Jane Morgan Memorial Library is housed in a 100+ year old building that was once a general store and then a restaurant. In 1943 the building was purchased by the Tarrant family and donated in memory of Mrs. Tarrant’s mother, Jane Morgan. Through the years there have been many changes and updates, the last major remodel happening in 1991. Coming up in April our Library will be getting a much needed makeover! Thanks to fundraising by the Friends group as well as some generous community grants, we will be saying goodbye to our pink and teal décor and updating our paint and carpet to something a little more modern. We’ve already updated all our lighting to LEDs and have all new furniture thanks to a donation in memory of our former Librarian, Barbara Daniel.

Being part of the South Central Library System Foundation is important to our little library. Thanks to their support, we’re able to have an investment that we know is safe and secure and helping us to make sure that our Library will last long into the future!

 

Foundation Donation

The SCLS Foundation was excited to finish up 2022 with their donation of $37, 153.76 for furniture and audio equipment to be installed at the new SCLS headquarters building on Pankratz Street in Madison.  The furniture and audio equipment will be used by the member libraries in the professional collection space and large meeting room.

The Foundation thanks all the people and companies that donated money to support outfitting the new space to better serve the member libraries and SCLS staff.  SCLS staff is scheduled to be in the new building in June 2023.  Interested folks can still donate to the SCLS new building via the SCLS Foundation here: https://www.sclsfoundation.org/giving just add a note detailing SCLS Building Project.

 

Foundation Fund Performance

As of December 31, 2022, the fund balance was $5,151,603.77, of which $273,135.99 was held on behalf of the Foundation. 

The gross return since inception on Dec. 1, 2012, is 5.26% and the one-year return was -16.26%.

For more information about investing with the Foundation, please contact Martha Van Pelt, SCLS Director, at (608) 246-7975 or mvanpelt [at] scls.info.

 

Foundation Contributors

These people have donated to the SCLS Foundation since September 20, 2022 thru January 1, 2023. The category in which each is listed represents their total Foundation contribution to date.

•    Legacy -- $10,000 +

• Phyllis Davis      
• Delta Properties

•    Benefactor – $9,999 - $5,000

•    Steward – $4,999 - $1,000

• Bob Blitzke & Jane Grogan
• Anne Iwata
• Daniel & Marcia Smith
• Theresa Walske

•    Advocate – $999 - $500

• Oriental Shop

•    Patron – $499 - $250

• Daniel & Heather Watts

•    Friend – $249 - $100

• Susan Barthel
• Betty Custer
• Marty Goodman
• Eric & Jance Vincent

•    Supporter – $99 - $50

• Mark Miller

•    Sponsor – $49 - $1

• William & Sue Bridson
• Paul Tyler