Fairfield Not For Profits
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Fairfield Not For Profits

2130- Pequot Library

2130 Budget Requests
0
Obj
Description
FY20
FY21
FY22
FY23
FY24 REQUESTED
1
58500
CONTRIBUTIONS TO OTHER AGENCIES
350,000
400,000
400,000
350,000
350,000
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Pequot Library Association (PLA) was founded in 1889 by Virginia Marquand Monroe (1837-1926) and Elbert B. Monroe (1836-1894) to be "free as air to all" as it proudly remains to this day. Recognized nationwide as a historic cultural center and featured in travel magazines as one of Fairfield’s most iconic architectural treasures, PLA is one of three public libraries in Fairfield that serve the entire community.
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Since the onset of the global pandemic in March 2020, PLA has transitioned from surviving to adapting to thriving, all of which would not have been possible without the continued support of the Town of Fairfield, PLA’s supporters, patrons, sponsors, volunteers, Board of Trustees, and staff. With a professional team of nine full-time and 13 part-time members, a newly-expanded Board of 20, and 200 volunteers, PLA fosters a lifelong pursuit of learning and inspires creativity through access to multidisciplinary educational experiences, unique library services, and Special Collections which enrich lives and build community. With its purpose-built concert hall, exhibition space, Special Collections of rare books and archives, ever-expanding circulating book collection, bustling Children’s Library, digital Story Times and Meet the Author talks, historically significant architecture and Great Lawn, PLA is uniquely poised to synthesize education with library services. During FY 2022, 295 programs and events served 33,288 visitors.
Projected for 2024, approximately 80% of PLA’s annual budget will be supported by private contributions, grants, and events/program revenue. PLA organizes approximately four major annual fundraising events, including the popular Summer Book Sale, which attracts about 10,000 attendees with visitors from all over the region supporting Fairfield businesses each July.
From PLA’s modest unrestricted investments of $2.3M, the Library must draw down an average of 6-7% for annual operating support — an increase due to dwindling resources as operational and program costs continue to increase. Even in its historic 1894 building, PLA is a 21st-century library, offering so much more than a place to borrow books: responding to community needs by bringing K-12 school programs on-site, collaborating with educators to customize Special Collections programs for students, offering a variety of in-person, hybrid and digital programming for children and adults, donating used books to communities in need, and participating in Town-wide events with community partners.
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In 2010, the Town of Fairfield supported what was approximately 26.8% of PLA’s $1.3M annual budget, and since then, consumer prices have increased nearly 35%. As the Library’s annual budget increases each year, the Town’s support percentage has decreased to what is currently slightly more than 20% of the annual budget. With major strategic planning underway along with library staffing returning to pre-pandemic levels, the Town’s support continues to be essential for PLA to remain open as one of Fairfield’s most treasured public resources. For 2024, PLA respectfully submits this request in the amount of $350,000, (level funding since 2009/10) to support its general operations.
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