Princeton

Princeton Public Library has received a four-star ranking in the recently published Library Journal Index of Public Library Service for 2009. This is the second year that the library has earned the designation, which is based upon impressive statistics in the areas of circulation, library visits program attendance and use of public Internet computers.

"We are pleased to receive this honor for the second year in a row," says library Executive Director Leslie Burger. "While our focus is squarely on serving the community, awards such as this one show us that Princeton Public Library’s reputation for excellence extends far beyond Princeton."

Princeton Public Library has received a $500,000 gift designated for its Centennial Campaign for Endowment from the Scheide Fund.

William H. and Judy Scheide, generous contributors to the library in the past, are prominent residents of Princeton and enthusiastic supporters of arts and culture in the community. Previous gifts from the couple include $500,000 for construction of the library’s current building, which opened in 2004.

The Scheide Library, privately owned and deposited in Princeton University’s Firestone Library, is one of the world’s premier collections of earliest European printing. The Scheides also own an important collection of rare books.

Speaking of their most recent contribution to the Princeton Public Library, the Scheides commented: "Public libraries turn the entire community into book collectors. Anyone with a library card has access to wonderful collections, stories and information."

The Robert Wood Johnson 1962 Charitable Trust has awarded Princeton Public Library a $1 million challenge grant, to be matched on a one-to-one basis for the library’s Centennial Campaign for Endowment.

Princeton Public Library will celebrate its 100th anniversary in October. The goal of the Centennial Campaign is to build a $10 million endowment for the library by the end of this year. The endowment will provide a sustainable source of income to supplement municipal support, allowing the library to continue to offer innovative services to the community.

With the gift from the Robert Wood Johnson 1962 Charitable Trust, the library has to raise an additional $2 million to reach its goal.

"We are proud to have received this second challenge grant from the Robert Wood Johnson 1962 Charitable Trust," says Princeton Public Library Executive Director Leslie Burger. "Having a dollar-for-dollar challenge encourages others in the community to donate and is an endorsement of the significant role the library plays in this community. We are grateful for this generous gift and hope to be able to complete the challenge quickly."

The Robert Wood Johnson 1962 Charitable Trust and other organizations under the direction of Betty Wold Johnson have made gifts totaling $3 million to Princeton Public Library.