Library Information
Supporting the library
There are many ways to offer support to the library. A wide variety of tasks are available for volunteers such as serving on a board, working in the bookstore, reading shelves, contributing funds... Explore these ways you can make a difference!
Volunteering at the library Get Connected! Volunteers assist, enhance, and support the work of the Rochester Public Library.
Donations
All donations to the "penny jar" are used to purchase materials for the library.
In June 1986, an anonymous, hand-delivered 
card made its
way into then Library Director Judith Taylor's in-box.
The writer described himself as a retired professional
man of modest means, but with an idea for a plan to make
a financial start toward a more adequate library facility.
His plan was to have every person, young and old, give a penny per year of age, or perhaps two or three pennies per year. With his card was an envelope with $1.58, amounting to two pennies per year of his age: 79.
By August 1995, when the library was preparing to move into a new facility, this fund had over $10,000. This money was used to purchase a colorful hanging artwork in the Children's area since tax funding did not cover such expenditures.
Demand for service and materials in the library outstrips
the public funds available to support it. Therefore, in
June 1997, the Friends of the Library presented a permanent "penny
jar" donation stand, with a plaque honoring Reverend
David Achterkirch, the original anonymous donor. This donation
stand is located in the east area of the lobby.