Friends of the Georgetown Public Library launch fundraiser to make up for budget cuts

The Friends of the Georgetown Public Library are looking to raise funds to address the $30,000 deficit in the library's budget caused by COVID-19, organization spokesperson Ricki McMillian said.

Funds raised will be used for needed library services and materials, not for any special designated items, and use will be determined as the library dictates, McMillian said.

"The fundraiser, 'Our Library, Our Lifeline,' is open-ended," she said. "We are trying to address the $30,000 deficit in the library's budget. So although that [amount] seems to be a goal, we are trying to help fill in that hole."

The group is not planning one particular event; rather, they are asking members and the public to help underwrite the usual library services that may not be funded due to coronavirus-related fund shortages and other city financial difficulties.

"The library has had to tighten its belt, like so many other services," McMillian said.

She added the Friends usually donate about $75,000 annually to the library, but the group's major fundraiser, the Second-Hand Prose bookstore, was closed for some months and is now experiencing low traffic due to social distancing.

"Those [usual] funds are not forthcoming," she said. "We are just generally asking for assistance from the community."