Generous tax-deductible gifts support the development of innovative programs and unique initiatives.
The Paperback Rider (Oak Park’s red book bike, at right) got a new friend in the summer of 2024: an electric-assist book bike (green, at left) named Anne of Green Fables. This addition doubles the capacity of the book bike outreach team! The library used donated funds to invest in the purchase of both custom bikes—supporting and expanding the joy of reading outside of our library’s physical building walls. See more about the bikes and community impact.
How your gift supports a library for everyone
Donors are recognized in an annual impact report and may receive communications related to future support. Recent initiatives supported by donations include:
- Oak Park’s Library of Things was developed with a generous gift from the estate of former head librarian and beloved Oak Parker Barbara Ballinger.
- The Store was launched with donated funds and is being piloted as an alternative way to generate revenue for future library initiatives.
- The Main Library lactation suite (nursing pod).
Contributing to endowment funds
Managed by the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation, these endowment funds also provide a tax-deductible opportunity to support the library and its future. Each endowment fund listed below is earmarked for a specific area of spending.
Give now to an endowment fund to support:
- Building and capital projects, established with support from Ina Ostertag
- Children’s projects and resources, established by the Fallon Family
- Continued education for library staff, established in recognition of Jim Madigan
- New books, established by Helen Harrison
- New materials, established by Bernard and Cecilia Sinkevitch
- Projects and programs, established by H. Spencer Green
- Scholarship for professional development for library staff, established by the Scoville-Hutchinson Library