Frequently Asked Questions

Endowment funds will prevent the library from losing its standing of excellence in the state and to continue to meet the needs of users well into the future.

The state-allotted book budget is in severe jeopardy – it has fallen from a one time high of 60 cents per capita to 25 cents per capita. When Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax funds are no longer available, there will be a marked decrease in the quality and quantity of books and resources offered at the library. Local government provides no funding for the collection. Our current materials budget is completely inadequate for a library with one of the highest use counts in the state – there were over 760,000 visits to the Athens-Clarke County Library in Fiscal Year 2009 alone.

In Fiscal Year 2009:

• Items Checked Out: 1,011,240
• Visits: 760,000
• Reference Questions Answered: 69,000
• Computer Uses: 255,000
• Attendance at Children’s Programs: 28,513

The Endowment creates a perpetual fund to meet the current and future collection needs of the library.

Phase One raised over $700,000 through personal and corporate gifts and a National Endowment for the Humanities Challenge Grant.

The Phase Two goal is $300,000. The interest from these gifts will be used in the following areas: Heritage ($50,000), Youth Services ($50,000), Media Collection ($50,000), Business Collection / Services ($50,000), and the General Collection/Acquisitions ($100,000).

All donations, including bequests and memorials, are tax deductible.

The library serves infants, children, teenagers, adults, seniors, students, professionals and job seekers. People of all ages and walks of life benefit from the Athens-Clarke County Library.