As part of our new series highlighting the work of local community organizations, LexObserver spoke with Mary Ellen Ringo, Executive Director of the Cary Library Foundation, about the Foundation’s work.
Answers have been edited for length and clarity.
LexObserver: Many Lexingtonians are familiar with Cary Library, but the Cary Library Foundation is a different organization. Where does the Foundation fit in?
Mary Ellen Ringo: The Cary Library Foundation functions as a private-public partnership, augmenting the municipal funding provided by the town of Lexington to bring the library’s vision to life. So, we do things like conduct an annual appeal, organize community-building fundraising events (like Library After Dark), and serve as the primary funding source of the many programs offered in the library. As the Foundation’s Executive Director, I manage the day-to-day operations of the organization and work very closely with the Board President, Liz O’Neill, our fellow Board members, and the Library Director, Koren Stembridge, to support the library’s vision.
Our dedicated Board also acts as a bridge between the library and the wider community, both in terms of publicizing events and leveraging the power of our incredible diversity to enrich the library experience. For example, through the Foundation’s Board, we secure scientist and author guests for our Science Café and Literary Café — many of whom are Lexington residents.
LO: What other programming does the library offer?
MER: It’s an amazing range. The library hosts approximately 1,000 programs annually: toddler dance parties, Girls Who Code, knitting clubs, nonfiction book clubs — the list goes on. There’s something for everyone in terms of interest and pursuits.
LO: It’s interesting that many of the programs you’ve listed seem unrelated to books.
MER: The library is no longer just a book repository. Libraries in general have really evolved over time, and that is especially true at Cary. It has become so much more. It is an intellectual community center, in complement to our wonderful Lexington Community Center. Cary Library is a community gathering place where people find common ground in knowledge, ideas, and learning. In today’s heightened climate, it is rare to find a place where everyone belongs. Our Library Director, Koren Stembridge, has done an amazing job of making the library a place where people feel welcome.
LO: Where does the funding for these programs come from?
MER: Without a capital campaign, the Foundation generally raises between $250,000-$350,000 in a typical year. We receive generous support from our community in the form of individual and family donations, local businesses, professional organizations, and non-profits. We also receive donations in the form of employer’s matching gift programs. The amount raised in any single year can vary widely, depending upon whether we receive a very generous bequest or are raising funds for a capital campaign. Our recently completely ChiRP! (Children’s Room and Lower Level Renovation) campaign, for example, was very successful, raising over $750,000 to augment public funding.
In fact, we have just begun the construction phase of the ChiRP! Project. The lower level of the library is currently closed for that renovation, which not only encompasses an improved children’s room for greater visibility and inclusivity in the space, but also an enhanced programming space to accommodate more flexibility in the depth and breadth of programs, an eco-friendly HVAC system, and an updated teen room.
LO: What else does the Foundation fund?
In addition to programming and major projects like ChiRP!, the Foundation funds other library initiatives such as collection expansion. It might come as a surprise to some, but digital collections are quite expensive. In some cases, much more so than physical books. We want to help the library meet the high demand for digital resources, which exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic but did not abate after reopening.
LO: In your opinion, what makes Cary Library an important cause?
MER: In an age where so many information sources require subscriptions, or are promoting a particular point of view, the library remains open and accessible to the public, free of charge. Cary strives to provide a diverse range of collections and be a welcoming “third place” (Ringo refers to the sociology construct of a place sought out by individuals apart from home and work, where one can connect and thrive.) I love watching the cycle of Lexingtonians throughout the day. Preschool-aged children arrive first thing in the morning for story time. Seniors visit throughout the morning and afternoon to spend time in the reading rooms, and we have a couple hundred teens every weekday coming straight from high school. On weekends, we see members of the entire community in the living room, relaxing but also connecting — whether it’s working together on the jigsaw puzzle or quietly reading a book next to someone else.
LO: What can our community do to contribute?
MER: We want to involve everyone in the Lexington community in maintaining this special space. Our Board members really put in so much time and effort toward that goal, but we know that not everyone can serve at that level. The Foundation can always use volunteers to help in other ways, whether it is two hours on occasion or 20 hours every month. There is a lot to do and we are more than happy to work with volunteers to find a role that fits their abilities and interests.
To learn more about Cary Library Foundation, visit https://www.carylibraryfoundation.org
Event Spotlight
In partnership with Cary Library, Cary Memorial Foundation will host a Literary Café on Tuesday, September 17 at 7:30 pm., featuring Lexington’s best-selling author and Cary Library Foundation Board member Marjan Kamali. Marjan will speak about her new book, The Lion Women of Tehran. (This event will be held at Lexington’s Community Center due to the renovation at Cary Library.)