Foundation to be fund-raiser for Library

That tax-exempt certification is considered a key in getting grants to raise the rest of the city’s matching funds for the state grant already approved to add 5,000 square feet to the library. Fund-raising chairman Tricia Massey has said repeatedly that national foundations with local ties have indicated a willingness to donate - but only to a tax-exempt organization.

Meanwhile, the Piedmont Regional Library System has received a $70,000 grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for a pilot program to promote the region’s 11 libraries.

PRL director Alan Harkness said the money will be used for advertising and promotions. The Piedmont Regional Library is one of only three library systems in the country (another is in Savannah) to test the program.

The program, Geek the Library (www.geekthelibrary), “is about getting the word out about libraries and the services they offer,” Harkness told the board.

The regional library has until March 1 to spend the money. If the project proves successful, the foundation may expand it nationwide.