Tompkins County Public Library Foundation Annual Appeal
Check out our 2011 Annual Appeal Videos here!
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“The challenge for the Tompkins County Public Library in this information age is to find new ways to engage citizens to participate in our democracy and renew our communities . . . To succeed in this worthy goal, TCPL must have financial resources commensurate with the challenge.”
-Tom and Amber Rochon |
Want to give? Click on the “Donate Now” icon or download our reply card and return it to: TCPL Foundation, 101 E. Green St., Ithaca, NY 14850.
Tom and Amber Rochon with sons, Eliot and Liam
Tom and Amber Rochon
Co-Chairs of the Tompkins County Public Library Foundation
2011 Annual Appeal
Dear Library Supporter,
At Ithaca College, and as parents, it’s our job to think about how best to equip young people for the challenges of today and tomorrow. What skills will they need to thrive in the information age? How can we help them be good citizens? How can we cultivate a love of learning?
We are proud to have in the Tompkins County Public Library a partner in considering these questions, not just for young people but for all citizens in our community.
The accumulation and dissemination of information, both in print and online, have reached heights we could not have imagined one generation ago. Yet as more of our daily lives are played out online, the divide between those with access and the skills to fully participate in the digital world, and those without, widens.
That’s where TCPL plays an absolutely central role by helping people navigate and effectively use tools, from email and e-commerce to downloadable books and smartphones. What’s more, the Library is the only source for online access for so many who have no other means at home or work to participate in online society.
For our community’s children, the Library provides the central ingredients of an active, productive life: a love of learning and the building blocks for literacy and academic achievement.
When our boys attend story time, they are associating reading and learning with fun, family time, and discovery of the power of words and stories. We can think of no better investment in their future than providing this important foundation.
At the macro level, we look to the Library to combat the decline in community participation in many areas of civic life. TCPL is a prime agent for building social capital – bonding the community and bridging diversity to create value for our collective benefit.
As Harvard political scientist Robert Putnam wrote, “Citizenship is not a spectator sport.” The challenge for the Tompkins County Public Library in this information age is to find new ways to engage citizens to participate in our democracy and renew our communities. It is a goal that goes well beyond the traditional role of the library as a passive repository of information for people to access. To succeed in this worthy goal, the TCPL must have financial resources commensurate with the challenge.
We support the Library because of what it makes possible for our family and our community. We hope you’ll join us by giving, as generously as you can, to sustain the Library’s essential work.
Sincerely,
Tom and Amber Rochon
Co-Chairs, 2011 Annual Appeal
