Bedford Library Foundation
Bedford Library Friends Call To Action

The Bedford Public Library Foundation seeks to promote a secure financial future by raising funds for an endowment.  Our goal is to enrich, not replace, traditional tax-based support for the library through gifts, grants and bequests from individuals and organizations to support library programs and projects not normally met by public funding.  The Foundation was formed to spearhead a Capital Campaign to ensure that the new Bedford Public Library will be able to meet the needs of the community.

Funds raised for the Capital Campaign will be used to enhance the following areas of the library:

• Art and Landscaping:  Enhance the new Library by updating and repairing the Globe, creating sculpture gardens and outdoor seating.
• Children’s Area:  Enhance the Children’s Area by raising funds for the Storytime Room, Discovery Room and Toddler Interactive Area.
• Furniture:  Assist with raising funds to purchase chairs, couches and tables to create a comfortable environment for leisure reading and studying.
• Technology:  Purchase 65 computers for the new library to be placed in the Computer, Job and Homework stations, Early Literacy stations and the Teen Center.

Bedford Library Foundation:

Bedford Public Library: A Phoenix Rising

Dear Friends,

In April of 2005, the Bedford Public Library was closed after a tax rollback election. A stunned community came together to raise funds led by the Bedford Library Friends. Thanks to the efforts of dedicated citizens and an anonymous donation of $125,000, the Library was able to open three weeks later at reduced hours to continue to serve the community.

Like a phoenix rising, the Bedford Public Library has proved to be resilient with the support of patrons. Today, the Library is open 7 days a week and checked out over half a million items in 2009. Through surveys, community focus groups and design workshops, citizens envisioned a state-of-the-art facility that would be the community’s front porch. Construction has started on the former grocery store that will be transformed into a beautiful 40,516 square foot library.

The Bedford Public Library needs your help to make this vision a reality. The Bedford Library Foundation in conjunction with the Friends are once again leading the charge to help the Library. Every donation counts and there are many naming opportunities and ways to recognize loved ones in the new building. Your tax deductible donation will build a library that we can all be proud of. Thank you for your kind consideration in this matter.

Sincerely,

Bedford Library Friends