How to Contribute
Library Endowment Fund
The West Bend Community Memorial Library Board has established a permanent endowment in support of Library operations and programming following a generous bequest of approximately $147,000 from the estate of Rita Lochen, who believed deeply in the power of libraries to strengthen and enrich a community.
The Board voted at a recent meeting to move forward with the creation of the West Bend Community Library Fund, an agency endowment that will provide a lasting source of financial support for the West Bend Community Memorial Library for years to come.
In recognition of Lochen’s generosity and the lasting impact of her gift, the Library Board also voted to name the Library’s first-floor conference room in her honor.
“Rita understood that a library is one of a community’s greatest investments,” said Library Board President Deb Bartnikowski. “She believed in its ability to educate, inspire, and bring people together. We are honored to preserve her legacy through the naming of the conference room and the establishment of this endowment, which will help ensure the West Bend Community Library remains a vibrant resource for generations.”
A gift that keeps givingThe Fund allows Lochen’s bequest and any other future contributions to be invested for long-term growth. Each year, a portion of the earnings will be distributed to support the Library’s mission, while the principal will remain preserved, permanently, for future generations.
The West Bend Community Library Fund, an Agency Endowment Fund overseen by the West Bend Community Foundation, is a permanent investment in the future of the Library and the community it serves. With the professional investment guidance of the West Bend Community Foundation, the Library Fund will ensure that the reserves stay locally rooted and strengthen the Library’s long-term financial future.
An additional source of supportThe Board’s goal for establishing the Fund is to provide an alternative revenue source for Library operations. Currently, over half of the Library’s funding comes from an allocation of property tax levy within the City of West Bend’s overall annual budget. Additional funding comes from Washington County, which funds the library at 100% cost per circulation to county users, supports system technology and provides funding for outreach to seniors. Adjacent counties reimburse the statutory minimum of 70%. Smaller sources of income are replacement funds, books sales, and interest income.
Like all City departments, the Library’s funding is established each year as part of a broader budget process that balances the needs of various departments and their services to the community. The West Bend Community Library Fund is designed to complement – not replace – that public investment. As a permanent charitable endowment, it creates an additional source of support that can help fund future enhancements, innovative programming, technology, capital improvements, and other opportunities that may extend beyond what annual public funding can reasonably accommodate.
A broad impactThe West Bend Community Memorial Library is far more than a place to borrow books. It serves as a lifelong learning center, community gathering place, technology hub, and cultural resource for residents of all ages. Every day, thousands of people rely on the West Bend Library for education, entertainment, research, connection, and essential services. Its impact extends well beyond its walls:
- 57,000 residents served throughout the Library’s circulation area.
- 4,000+ in-person visitors every week.
- #1 in the four-county Monarch Library System for both physical and digital collection use.
- 100,000+ items in the collection, with 2,500+ repaired annually.
- 26,000+ area residents hold West Bend Community Memorial Library cards.
“By building this lasting resource, the Library can continue to evolve to meet the community’s needs without full reliance on taxpayer dollars,” said Library Director Steve Thiry. “I hope our community sees Rita’s gift as the beginning of something bigger. A gift to the endowment is a gift that keeps giving, supporting the West Bend Community Memorial Library for generations to come.”
Ways to GiveThere are many ways to contribute to the endowment. Donors may make a gift during their lifetime through cash donations, or they can include the Library in their estate plan through a will, trust, retirement account, or beneficiary designation.
While gifts that support the Library’s current needs remain essential, donors who are thinking about their legacy and the Library’s long-term future are encouraged to consider directing those gifts to the endowment. In addition, donations may be made through the Friends of the Library group.
For more information, or to contribute to the Fund, please contact:
Steve Thiry – Library Director
West Bend Community Memorial Library
630 Poplar Street
West Bend WI 53095
(262) 335-5151 ex 5242
director@westbendlibrary.org
Online Donations
By contributing to your local library, you play a crucial role in fostering literacy, lifelong learning, and community engagement. Your donation helps the library acquire new items, expand its digital collection, enhance facilities, and organize educational events, thereby creating a vibrant and accessible space that benefits individuals and families alike.
Volunteer
We have a number of volunteer positions available. These opportunities include book delivery to homebound patrons, book selections, assistants at popup library locations, and coffee host.
Book Donations
Got items to donate? We’ll take them! We take books, DVDs, music CDs, and audiobooks. Items will either go into our collection or onto our Book Sale Shelf. Please take a look at our Donation Policy. Contact Darci at 262-335-5151 x 5260 or dtrapp@westbendlibrary.org with any questions.
Projects
We are reaching out to our community to receive help for some installation projects we would like to create at the library or at our Patron Park. These project ideas are for groups or individuals to become a part of. All ideas are welcome and encouraged so we can create a library for all ages to enjoy.
Library Project Ideas
We are continuously exploring new ways to improve the library to create a better space for our patrons. Here is a list of some of our ideas we would like to see happen at our library but additional ideas from our community can also be considered.
For more information on how you can be apart of making these ideas come to life is available from the library director. All projects will need plan approval before moving forward.
Coffee Shop
Offer a coffee shop inside the library that would provide fresh coffee, beverages, and snacks for our visitors.
Solar Array
A new solar install on top of the Library to provide power year round and create a sustainable library. Estimated cost of $266,589.donate
Play Structure
An outdoor play structure for Patrons Park that is visually interesting and made out of cedar so it blends into the environment but can be climbable for the youth.
Imaginative play station
Create an imaginative play station for the youth department. This could be a grocery store front, dress up play, veterinary station, or anything you could find at a Children’s museum.
Baby Corral
A special and safe spot for the babies to play and is designed to keep them contained in an area that has toys fit for their age.
Entryway for the youth department
A new entryway for the youth department to make it look more whimsical and inviting. Maybe some MDF trees or a white picket fence fence that could be decorated for the seasons.
Library Volunteer Positions
Walk-on Volunteer Tasks
These tasks include minimal training and include but not limited to light cleaning, book un-processing, shelf-reading, promotional literature processing, and cleaning of toys.
Book Delivery to Homebound Patrons
Provide delivery to homebound patrons, using your own vehicle. Work with individuals or run a monthly route. Exchange bags of library materials with homebound patrons. Time commitment of 1-2 hours per month.
Book selection for Homebound Patrons
Work with individual homebound patrons by provide reader’s advisory and selection assistance. Assist with making phone calls and to helping to check with things such as appointment reminders, renewals & next reads. Time commitment of 2 to 4 hours per month.
On-site Assistant at Popup Library Locations
Join library staff at outreach location and assist with assigned tasks such as collect returned items, empty book drops and take requests. Time commitment of 2 to 4 hours per month.
Coffee Host
Help set up coffee for Free Coffee Fridays. Tasks include, setting up coffee to be ready by 9:00, cleaning up coffee after 11:00 and sometimes introducing guest speakers. Time commitment of up to 4 hours per Friday.
Adopt a Facility
Be the library’s liaison to a senior assisted care facility. Work with staff and residents to determine reader interests, manage an on-site depository library, deliver library materials to your adopted facility. Time commitment of 4 hours per month.
Information Distribution
Have a favorite hangout? Help the library inform the community of happenings at the library by posting brochures and distributing information.
Generic
Assist the library with a variety of tasks including but not limited to craft programs, work with homebound patrons, help set up for library programs, work with senior care facilities, and help patrons with computers and internet.
Friends of the Library
The Friends of the Library is a group of dedicated supporters and enthusiasts who work to support the mission and services of the West Bend Community Memorial Library, as well as to engage in related educational, charitable and cultural activities.
Join the Friends of the Library and assist with a variety of tasks including processing donated and discontinued library books, assist with book sales, help promote the library, and attend monthly meetings. Time commitment can vary.
Annual membership dues are $10
Volunteer Center of Washington County
You have the power to make a difference. The Volunteer Center is here to connect you with ways to serve the organizations and causes that mean the most. You can search community-wide volunteer needs or join us for a program that makes volunteering fun and accessible, with heart-warming experiences that can fit into the busiest schedule.