In the spirit of Giving Tuesday, the Long Beach Public Library Foundation has announced the founding of the Long Beach Luminaries, a monthly donation program to support crucial local library programs.
The funds raised from the Luminaries will supply funding for scholarships, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) programs, digital access, cultural programming and more for the Long Beach Public Library (LBPL).
“Libraries transform lives by providing access to opportunity, connection, and creativity,” said Veronica Garcia Dávalos, Executive Director of the Long Beach Public Library Foundation, in a public statement. “The Long Beach Luminaries program helps ensure that these critical services remain available to everyone in our community, today and in the future.”
As part of their membership, all Long Beach Luminaries members will be given a personal, custom LBPL card to honor their dedication to the library.
“I grew up spending time in libraries; they are not the way they were when I grew up. Libraries have expanded to being a much-needed resource for everyone in our community, and the Long Beach Public Library Foundation helps fund all these essential services,” said Luminary member Barbara Schwerin, one of the first people to sign up for the program, in a public statement.
The Luminaries program has various giving tiers, each funding a specific aspect of the LBPL’s services. Examples include the $10 per month “Shining Star” level that can fund new children’s book additions to the library, and the $500 per month “Beacon” level that helps create scholarships for the accredited diploma programs of Career Online High School.
Beyond the Luminaries, the community can help support the Long Beach Public Library Foundation through the following donation strategies:
- The Giving Branch: This Library Foundation society donates $1,000 or more annually, and its members come together to learn about issues related to libraries, literacy, and the literary world.
- Carnegie49: Named after industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, Carnegie49 recognizes individuals who name the Long Beach Public Library Foundation as a beneficiary of their estate.
- Donor-Advised Funds and Employer-Matching Gifts: Contributors to the foundation can strengthen their impact by partaking in employer-matching programs or directing gifts through donor-advised funds.
To learn more about the Long Beach Public Library Foundation, residents can visit www.lbplfoundation.org. Anyone who would like to join the Long Beach Luminaries or look into other donation options for LBPL can visit www.lbplfoundation.org/luminaries.