How Can You Make a Difference?

Most people want to have a positive impact on the community but aren't sure how. With so many community challenges it can be overwhelming to know how to help.
Which community programs are making a real difference? How can you best contribute to the greater good?

Illiteracy At least 2,300 community residents lack basic literary skills.  Poverty 15% of residents in McLean County live in poverty.  No Internet Nearly 20% of county residents do not have access to internet in their homes.

 

Making a Difference for Over 80 Years

Since 1935 the Normal Public Library has been enriching the quality of life for community residents and serving as a catalyst for literacy, learning, creativity, and innovation.

In 2019
Over 5,000 people enrolled in the summer reading program
Over 30,000 participants in library programs
1,600 community meetings held in the library

book icon, computer icon, community icon

At the Normal Public Library, community residents can:

  • Research and Apply for jobs
  • Meet with an English tutor
  • Access the internet
  • Use new technology in the Children's Tech Playground
  • Engage with other community members
  • Experiment with engineering through the Teen Mobile Makerspace
  • Participate in summer reading programs
  • Attend author events
  • Listen to the Tiny Book Concert Series
  • Feel a part of the community

 

But...

In a world of tightening budgets, the library needs more support than what traditional funding can provide.
Community programs and activities are in danger of being cut. Help keep the Normal Public Library extraordinary!

 

 

Join the First Edition Club

The First Edition Club is the Normal Public Library’s monthly sustainer program. By donating monthly, no matter the amount, you’ll be part of the First Edition Club. Joining the First Edition Club and giving monthly to the Normal Public Library Foundation is:

Impactful

Never worry about whether your support is making a positive difference. The Normal Public Library has been enriching the lives of community members for over 80 years, and your support will impact the lives of tens of thousands.

Convenient

You don’t have to remember to mail a gift or donate monthly. It’s all automatic, making life simpler for you.

Exclusive

You’ll be the first to learn about programs, services, and events that your gifts have funded.

Eco-Friendly

Automatic donations don’t require envelopes or checks, and the Foundation will send you fewer paper letters.

 

Examples of What Your Gift Could Provide

$15/month A child’s reward for completing a summer reading program.  $30 per month A spool of 3D printer “ink” for the Teen MakerSpace.  $50 per month Internet service for 25 individuals.

 

 

Not ready to join the First Edition Club?

Give a one-time donation or join our email list to learn more about the Normal Public Library Foundation.

Join Email List

At the Normal Public Library (NPL) Foundation, we know that you want to be an engaged and supportive community member. To do that, you need to participate in something that genuinely benefits and supports the community. The problem is that you are up against many local challenges: illiteracy, lack of internet access, unregistered voters, violent crime, and unemployment. So many community challenges can be overwhelming, but we believe that everyone deserves to be a productive contributor to the greater good.

We understand that it is hard to know how to help and make a difference, which is why we support the Normal Public Library, a community institution that has been making a difference for over 80 years. The Normal Public Library already enriches the quality of life for community residents by providing a free, public place where community members can research and apply for jobs, attend literacy and education classes, and participate in community events like registering to vote. Libraries also provide a safe space for teens, reduce crime, and provide free access to the internet which is essential in today’s world.

Unfortunately, in a world of tightening budgets, the library needs more support than what traditional funding can provide. The NPL Foundation is a community-based organization that raises funds to enhance the Normal Public Library. By making a recurring donation, you will help take the library from normal to extraordinary. You can also learn more about the work of the NPL Foundation and help spread the word so others can join you in your mission to contribute to the greater good. By partnering with the NPL Foundation you can stop worrying about how to make a positive difference in the community and instead know that you are helping to enrich the quality of life for tens of thousands of community residents.

The Normal Public Library Foundation is a non-profit organization under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) and your gift is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Federal Tax ID # 45-3138846

Normal Public Library Foundation logo

Book Sale

Board Members