Ohio PL Gets $10 Million Bequest
-- Library Journal, 12/26/2006
The Pickaway County District Public Library (PCDPL), Circleville, OH, has received a $10 million bequest from the estate of Mary Joanne Clifton. "We are humbled that Mrs. Clifton thought enough of the library and its mission in the community to make this significant contribution," said Jim Guenther, library director. Clifton was a lifetime member of the library's Friends group. PCDPL's Board of Trustees will review options and solicit input from the community before deciding how to use the funds. The donation from the Clifton estate came in two installments. The first $4 million came in April 2006. The executor of the estate requested the library wait for the second part before publicizing the gift. The second installment of $6 million was presented December 7.
"[Clifton] was not a frequent user, so we were quite surprised," PCDPL spokesperson Michelle Callahan told LJ. PCDPL has been the beneficiary of several other bequests this year. In May, it received $10,000 from the estate of Doris Kibler Brehmer. In June, the library received more than $181,000 from the estate of Harold Holland. The community also donated more than $350,000 to move the main library in 2003 to a new location. PCDPL serves a population of 51,723 and consists of the main library plus one branch, bookmobile service, Storytime on Wheels, and homebound delivery. The approximately $1.9 million annual budget is funded almost entirely (95 percent) by state revenues.
