Monday, August 18, 2014

Just Life | Donating To Your Library

The other day, I came across an article written by Martha Steward about the loss of her sister, Laura Kostyra Plimpton. I noticed that her family requested that instead of sending flowers, they encouraged everyone to donate to Connecticut & New York Public Libraries. 
 
What a noble idea.  

In my opinion, Stockton is full of generous men and women. 

For example do you know how Stockton got its very first library building? 

Let me tell you.

The city of Stockton got its very first library building thanks to the generosity of one of its citizens, Frank Stewart.  Mr. Stewart donated $5000 in his will for the establishment of a library. The library opened its doors on February 1, 1889. The size of the collection was 11,000. 

Stewart Library

Stewart Library was replaced by another magnificent Library in just a few years thanks to the generosity of another great man; William Hazelton who donated $76,000 to the city of Stockton in his will.

This library was a magnificent marble library fit for a king. It housed 25,000 books.


Hazelton Marble Library

Our own former library director, Ursula Meyer (1927-2011) who was the Library director from 1974-1994, also donated generously to our library system in her will.

So, I am thinking, if all of us from San Joaquin County decide to donate $50 in our wills to the library, let see how much that would mount to:

The San Joaquin population is 710,731 X $50= $ 35,536,550

Enough said!

Signing off until next Monday- Panteha