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Millennium Project Background
Winnipeg City Council has endorsed an exciting new plan that will transform the Centennial branch of Winnipeg Public Library into a modern, dynamic and accessible library facility. As a result, the Millennium Library project is becoming a reality in the heart of downtown Winnipeg.
The delivery of library services has changed dramatically with the advent of technology. Accordingly, Centennial Library is being renovated and expanded to support the enhanced services, programs and collections that patrons are requesting today. The Centennial Library Millennium project represents a significant partnership of the public and private sectors that includes all three levels of government working together, with a sizeable investment from the private sector, to achieve the common goal of improving public library services for the citizens of Winnipeg.
On February 25, 2003, the Winnipeg Library Foundation launched its community campaign to raise $3 million towards the Millennium Library project. Atending the event were the Premier of Manitoba, Gary Doer; the Mayor of Winnipeg, Glen Murray; Mr. George Skinner, representing the Government of Canada; Mr. Hartley Richardson, President and CEO of James Richardson & Sons Ltd.; Mr. Bob Silver, Co-chair of the Winnipeg Library Foundation; Ms. Annitta Stenning, President and CEO of CentreVenture and Co-chair of the community campaign; and Paula Mitchell, owner of Mitchell Fabrics Ltd., Chair of the Downtown BIZ and Co-chair of the community campaign.
The first phase of the capital fundraising campaign has successfully raised $15 million consisting of $3 million from the federal government, $3 million from the province, $6.4 million from the city and over $5 million from Winnipeg's private and corporate sector. As a major incentive for other Winnipeggers to support the campaign, Hartley Richardson announced that the family's Richardson Foundation would provide $1 million in matching funds for the first million raised by the community. This gift is added to an earlier $1 million given to the campaign to bring the Richardson family's support for the Library campaign to $2 million.
"The Library must be current, user-friendly and inviting — a place to come and learn in a positive environment. Like the United Way and all it supports, the Library is not a part of our community that it would be nice to have. It is an essential part of our community that we must have!
I'm encouraging other Winnipeg businesses and organizations to get behind this campaign and help take it to the top by matching employee donations so that together we can develop one of Winnipeg's most important community resources."
Hartley Richardson, President & CEO, James Richardson and Sons Ltd.
As the final phase of the fundraising program, the community campaign is mainly targeting individual Winnipeggers, i.e., library cardholders, library users, local businesses, and professional and community organizations. More than 300,000 Winnipeggers hold library cards — about half of the city's population — and every year Winnipeggers make over 3 million visits to city libraries.
"This will be a Winnipeg achievement that we all will be a part of. We believe it will redefine the relationship we all have with one of our most important assets and institutions and that, in itself, will strengthen our Library for years to come."
Annitta Stenning, Community Campaign Co-chair
The campaign will offer recognition opportunities to donors, based on levels of giving. For example, a $25 gift purchases a book with an acknowledging bookplate, a $500 gift could purchase a table or content shelf and $2,500 could purchase a computer workstation with a plate acknowledging the donor.
"The Millennium Library will assure our city’s future in a knowledge-based society. It will be the nerve centre for the 20 branches of the Winnipeg Public Library system. It will also provide increased community access to literacy, education and training resources. The vitality of the community will be enriched by a world-class information centre and meeting place. Most importantly, the Millennium Library will be a legacy for our children and grandchildren that will open doors to a universe of ideas, opinions and options."
Bob Silver, Winnipeg Library Foundation Co-chair
Established in 1996, the Winnipeg Library Foundation Inc. is an independent philanthropic organization whose mission is to cultivate support and to raise funds for innovative Winnipeg Public Library projects. The Foundation is committed to supporting the Library through strategic partnerships with governments and private donors including corporations, other foundations and individuals. Private financial support from the community enhances library programs and services beyond public resources.
For more information, visit www.millenniumlibrary.com.
“On behalf of Winnipeg Public Library and the staff of Centennial Library, I would like to thank the Winnipeg Library Foundation for its enormous volunteer commitment to this project. Not only have you helped to raise a significant financial contribution towards the Millennium Library project, but you have also helped to raise awareness of public library service in Winnipeg and the role that public libraries play in the community.”
Rick Walker, Manager of Library Services, City of Winnipeg
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