Dyersville library raises $10,000 for new endowment

Thanks to an outpouring of local support, the James Kennedy Public Library reached its $10,000 fundraising goal for a new endowment fund with the Dyersville Area Community Foundation. The endowment will provide annual funding ­­— forever — for library programs and projects. 

“Throughout our campaign to reach the $10,000 goal, we have been fortunate to have many individual donors, especially during Great Give Day,” says Karen Kramer, library board member. Jeanne Coppola issued a matching challenge to motivate donors on Great Give Day, a 24-hour online fundraising event hosted by the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque each May. 

Among the campaign supporters was Alan Bird, who made a $1,000 gift to launch the endowment in honor of his mother, Irma, a founding library board member over 50 years ago. The Sharon Osterhaus Family made donations in memory of Dick Osterhaus. A gift from library trustee Betty Anne Scherrman pushed the campaign to the finish line. 

“Betty Anne's donation was a significant turning point in helping us reach our goal much sooner than anticipated,” says Kramer. 

Library board members and staff also made donations. “I always think it’s meaningful when that happens, because it shows how important the mission is,” says board member Angela English.

For now, efforts remain focused on building the fund to strengthen future payouts. “Down the road, I can see the fund being used to supplement the collection and various programming, the two most important services we offer library patrons,” says English.  “We have been named a Star Library several times, and it’s our employees who really put out great programs and develop a collection our town is proud of. Our connection to the public is strong, so the endowment will be a vital resource in maintaining our library in the manner patrons have come to expect.”