Library Giving Day, April 2
For more than four decades, Russ Carrier has been a guiding force behind the growth and transformation of Forbes Library in Northampton. Now, as the library prepares to open a new youth programming room this spring, the community is invited to honor Russ’s extraordinary service by helping furnish this new space for young people.
I had the honor of serving on the Forbes Library Board of Trustees with Russ for the past 10 years and witnessed firsthand his dedicated commitment to maintaining and constantly improving our beautiful library.
Russ was first elected to the Board of Trustees in 1981 and was chosen as president of the board at his very first meeting. Over the next four decades, his leadership helped shape nearly every major improvement to the library. During the 1990s and early 2000s, Russ guided the library through a decade of ambitious renovations that restored the historic building, modernized its infrastructure, redesigned every floor, and introduced computer technology throughout the library.
His leadership continued through major projects in the years that followed, including extensive exterior repairs in 2008 and a renovation of the Children’s Department in 2010. In 2013, Russ spearheaded the campaign to fund the accessible elevator at the library’s front entrance, dramatically improving access to the building. More recently, he led fundraising efforts for the library’s outdoor performance stage.
Before stepping down from the board at the end of last year, Russ helped plan one final building project: a new youth programming room that will serve children and teens for generations to come. The youth room is scheduled to open during April school vacation week and will provide a welcoming gathering place for young people of all ages to attend free library programs such as storytimes, gaming clubs, crafting workshops, and book discussions.
In celebration of Russ Carrier’s 44 years of service to Forbes Library, I would like to invite community members to give to the Youth Programming Room on Thursday, April 2, Library Giving Day. Library Giving Day is a national day of giving to support the incredible programs, services, and materials provided by local libraries all over the country.
Visit the library’s website to donate on Tuesday, April 2. All donations up to $25,000 will be matched by the Friends of Forbes Library.
Katy Wight, chair of the Forbes Library Board of Trustees
Northampton