LIBRARY LOVE When it comes to our relationship with the library, we know it’s a long-term, death-do-us-part kind of love. But in September, the Jack Buncher Foundation takes it to a higher level.
Beginning in 2016, the Allegheny County Library Association partnered with the foundation to declare September Love Your Library Month. For every cash donation a library receives, up to $500, the Buncher Foundation will match it.
The Mt. Lebanon Public Library has received $26,757.76 since 2016 from the foundation, and has used the money to fund a number of special programs:
Global Beats An all-ages program that focused on a different country or region and its culture each month with food, live music, dance and conversation. Featured countries included Iran, China, India, Ireland and Mexico.
Art & the Written Word A collaboration of spoken word and performance art pieces bringing the written word to life. Programs included a discussion and performance by members of the Pittsburgh Opera’s cast of Moby-Dick; Irish stories and folk tales presented in conjunction with the Irish music group Guaranteed Irish; stories of New Orleans and a performance by the music combo Red Beans & Rice; and a preview of Little Lake Theatre’s season.
Beats, Bops & the Blues A three-part series covering be-bop, New Orleans jazz and ragtime and stride piano.
Won’t You Be My Neighbor? A four-part series focused on building equitable, welcoming communities.
This year’s Buncher Foundation money is earmarked for the library’s new Dynamic Learning Lab, formerly the Library Maker Space. The Dynamic Learning Lab will expand into a space that was formerly a staff office, doubling the size of the current Maker Space and affording the library the ability to feature more maker and technology skill-building programs.
Donate online at www.mtlebanonlibrary.org/265/Donate [1]