T he sound of change jingling as it was fed into a machine at a local credit union was music to the ears of Curtis Memorial Library representatives.
About $960 — the vast majority of it in coins — was raised through the library’s annual fundraising event, and counted at Atlantic Regional Federal Credit Union in Brunswick on Thursday.
The coin tally event capped off Love Your Library month.
Throughout February, supporters gathered change to support the library in “Coins For Curtis” pint jars. The jars were donated by Gelato Fiasco which on Tuesday donated 100 percent of sales to the library whenever customers presented their library cards.
All coins collected support the library’s annual fund which directly adds new books and audio materials to their youth, teen and adult collections, according to the library.
Many donations in the Coins For Curtis drive were collected by the library’s younger patrons, according to Joyce Schmitt, which helps strengthen their connection to the library.
“Kids will feel they had a part in it,” said Schmitt, the library’s development associate.
Oliver Casey, 5, of Brunswick, diligently fed the coins into the credit union’s coin sorter on Thursday. Oliver is a Curtis patron, according to his mother, who enjoys books featuring character such as the Smurfs, Piggie and Gerald, as well as Dinosaur Train.
Books for children
Many books purchased thanks to the Coins For Curtis drive will help fill shelves with books for children such as Oliver, according to Schmitt.
“We know there are a few more coin jars out there that folks have not yet returned, so we’re hoping the campaign goes over $1,000,” Schmitt wrote in an email to The Times Record later on Thursday.
That amount may be less than the $1 million Oliver had predicted was in the jars before they were sorted. However, the coins will help the library reach its goal to raise $98,000 by June 30 as part of the annual fund. About $88,000 has been raised so far, said Schmitt.
Donations may be made online at www.curtislibrary.com/giving-opportunities at-curtis-library/.
jswinconeck@timesrecord.com
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