OTTAWA COUNTY, MI – A fundraiser for an embattled West Michigan library that was defunded amid a marketing campaign towards LGBTQ supplies has met its purpose thanks partially to a considerable donation from bestselling romance novelist Nora Roberts.

The GoFundMe marketing campaign for Patmos Library in Jamestown Township has met its $245,00 purpose. As of two:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, $252,307 had been raised.

Associated: Voters defund West Michigan library amid marketing campaign towards LGBTQ supplies

A $50,000 donation Sunday by Roberts assist pushed the marketing campaign over the end line.

“Libraries are treasures, opening the door to books and tales for all. Librarians, to me, are the guardians of these tales,” Roberts mentioned in an announcement. “I discover the concept of librarians – who provide group companies past studying – dealing with threats and assaults, a group library dealing with defunding each appalling and unhappy.

“It’s an honor for me to face up for the Patmos library and its employees.”

Roberts wrote on the GoFundMe web page that $50,000 is the positioning’s donation restrict. Ought to the fundraiser stay wanting its purpose, she mentioned, contact her and he or she’ll make up the remaining.

Larry Walton, the library board’s president, mentioned he’s grateful for Roberts’ donation in addition to all those who poured in from throughout the state, nation and abroad.

“To have that help, that endorsement, that validation from a well-known, nationwide writer was unbelievable,” Walton mentioned.

Created earlier this month by Jamestown Township resident Jesse Dillman, the fundraising purpose was set at one 12 months’s price of funding for the library.

Dillman created the fundraiser after voters on Aug. 2 shot down an working millage renewal and enhance amid a marketing campaign towards LGBTQ supplies on the library’s cabinets.

The library will lose 85% of its $245,000 annual price range due to the millage’s failure, Walton mentioned. Nevertheless, the 10-year millage request will likely be again on the poll on Nov. 8.

“The millage represents 85% of our price range. The millage represents us retaining our doorways open for a 10-year time period – long-term pondering,” Walton mentioned. “We really feel the donations are improbable. We respect that as a result of that cash is instantaneous that we all know we are able to prolong retaining our doorways open this subsequent 12 months, however that’s one 12 months.”

Walton mentioned a millage, slightly than a donation-based funding mannequin, makes extra sense for the library as a result of the library board is comprised of volunteer group members.

“I can’t think about the effort and time that may be required to maintain on the lookout for donations,” he mentioned.

Associated: Patmos Library will pursue one other millage amid controversy over LGBTQ books

This time round, a millage committee has been fashioned to counter among the disinformation on the market in regards to the millage, Walton mentioned.

Main as much as the August millage vote, among the millage opposition indicators claimed the library had content material that was “grooming” youngsters. The earlier two library administrators have been additionally accused of grooming youngsters by millage opposition members and resigned earlier this 12 months, in March and in June, attributable to harassment, Walton mentioned. The library board is within the strategy of hiring a brand new director.

“It took a defeat of the millage for folks to return out and volunteer, so that may be a great point,” Walton mentioned. “I want we weren’t in that place, however it’s improbable that we’ve had an amazing turnout this previous week of individuals stepping up and saying, ‘I need to assist go this millage.’”

A few of that committee work, which is separate from the library, will embrace messaging on what the millage is, why the library wants a long-term millage and extra, mentioned Dillman, who’s a part of the millage committee.

Dillman mentioned the fundraiser will stay on-line and open to receiving additional donations in the meanwhile.

Dillman is working with Illinois nonprofit EveryLibrary to handle the raised funds and make sure the cash goes to Patmos Library, he mentioned. EveryLibrary, in flip, is working with the Patmos Library Board on the right way to switch and use the cash.

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