Borough President joins Brooklyn Public Library and Independence Community Foundation to honor a successful drive to buy new library books

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz honored the success of the “Buy a Book for Brooklyn” campaign and met some of the hundreds of donors who were inspired by a $100,000 Independence Community Foundation Challenge Grant, including two children who raised $250. Government cutbacks slashed the budget for new books at the Brooklyn Public Library this year, threatening a severe impact on children and seniors. But in the three-month borough-wide Buy a Book campaign, donors personally responded to this shortfall by raising $150,000. When combined with Independence’s matching grant, the total of $300,000 bought more than 15,000 new books for the Brooklyn Public Library.

“When Brooklynites heard about the budget cuts to our beloved public libraries they responded to the challenge with the generosity that makes our borough the greatest city in America, by raising the money to buy our children the books they need to read,” said Borough President Markowitz. “Buy a book for Brooklyn sends a simple and clear message to those who want to slash our library budget: throw the book at 'em!”

The campaign was launched in September 2003 and promoted through the BPL’s 60 locations, the 19 Brooklyn branches of Independence Community Bank, and other public sites around the borough, including Borough Hall. The donor campaign exceeded its original goal by $50,000 (for a total of $150,000) and today Independence announced that it matched this increased figure.

Shown here with the check for $150,000 from Independence Community Foundation are (from left to right): Angelica Thomasula, Randy Estrada of Independence Community Bank, Lucille Thomas, President of the Brooklyn Public Library’s board of trustees, Mark Lieberman of Washington Mutual, Marilyn Gelber, Executive Director of Independence Community Foundation, Borough President Marty Markowitz, Matthew and Laurie Gilbert, who raised $250 themselves, Ginnie Cooper, Executive Director of the Brooklyn Public Library and Amber Officer.