Partnership Award

Madison Community Foundation

This is the sixth year we’ve presented this award, and we’re pleased and honored to recognize Madison Community Foundation.

Two years ago Madison Community Foundation announced a five-year project that will provide a total of $742,500 to the public libraries across Dane County. "Public libraries play a critical role in our society," said Kathleen Woit, Madison Community Foundation president. "This initiative builds on the community foundation's long-term support for libraries."

In 2007, Madison Community Foundation awarded $27,500 to each of 12 libraries to build a specific collection to serve its unique community. In turn, these collections benefited the entire system through interlibrary loan and collaborative efforts to make people aware of the new materials and the topics. In 2009, this project was extended to the remaining 15 libraries in the county, including the Dane County Bookmobile. Each of these library agencies will receive funds over three years in order to provide library users countywide with specialized materials in a subject field each has chosen. To date, more than 13,000 items have been added to the shared collection using Madison Community Foundation funds. Of these titles, nearly 30% are unique. Total circulation since 2007 of grant-funded materials is 41,380, and currently there are nearly 30,000 holds on the 13,000 items.

The Dane County Library Directors joined together in nominating the Madison Community Foundation for this special award. We find their long-term support of public libraries and their generous contribution to our collections to be especially deserving of this special award.

Page created 10/09.
Page updated 10/09.