Libraries Are More Important Than Ever

Banned Books Week September 18 - 24 From Renee Di Pilato, Director of Sarasota County Libraries and Historical Resources Over the last few months, many of you have expressed an interest in learning more about intellectual freedom and censorship. September happens to be the perfect time to highlight these issues, as libraries across the country mark Banned Books Week from September 18-24. Banned Books Week is an annual initiative spearheaded by the American Library Association (ALA) to shed light on those books that are frequently challenged, including titles such as To Kill a Mockingbird, The Bluest Eye, and The Hate U Give. Read More Here Koski Family Foundation Helps Close the Digital Divide A big thank you to the Koski Family Foundation for investing in increased digital resources for our libraries! Their recent $15,000 grant will purchase Launchpads, a mobile learning device that can be checked out of the library just like a book!  Each Launchpad is preloaded with content such as early literacy games, test preparation courses, and English language tutorials. Best of all, no expensive Wi-Fi required. A Gift That Benefits You and Our Libraries Several supporters have been surprised to learn that giving stock to the Library Foundation for Sarasota County can make a huge difference on next year’s tax return.  When you donate your appreciated assets, you: Skip paying the capital gains tax Can take a charitable deduction for the entire donation amount, if you also itemize deductions Make an even bigger impact toward supporting our libraries This free online tool makes transferring stocks simple by allowing you to print out the necessary forms online or giving you access to our account information so you can make the transfer with your broker.  Donate Stock The Penny Sales Tax On Nov. 8, 2022, Sarasota County residents will decide whether to extend the penny sales tax that has been in place since 1989. The one-cent surtax means a great deal for libraries. Learn more here and please vote for the “penny tax” to be renewed. Thank you! Tickets Go on Sale Soon! It’s almost time to announce the author for our 2023 Love Our Libraries Author Luncheon! Keep your eyes on our event page in October for this exciting news and the opportunity to buy your tickets to this sell-out event! Great communities deserve great libraries. Your tax-deductible gift helps ensure the future of our libraries as an indispensable community resource. Click on the button below to make a credit card donation, or  click here to learn about more ways to give.  Thank you for your generous support.  Make a Donation Today We champion strong public libraries, support innovation and help to extend the library system’s reach for everyone in Sarasota sarasotalibraryfoundation.org | 941.404.3139 | hello@sarasotalibraryfoundation.org The Library Foundation for Sarasota County is a qualified tax exempt charity under §501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture Consumer Services under §496.405, Registration No. CH35489  Our Contact Information *{{Organization Name}}* *{{Organization Address}}* *{{Organization Phone}}* *{{Organization Website}}* *{{Unsubscribe}}*