Donations have provided wonderful opportunities for our community.
Since the Friends of Indian Prairie Public Library was founded in 1986, it has contributed more than $200,000 to the library to provide special programs such as the travel series, movie series, art lectures, concerts, and the opera lovers lecture series. The Friends have also supported summer programs for children, teens, and adults.
The Indian Prairie Public Library Foundation was established in 1994 and has raised more than $245,600 in support of the library, funding everything from collection items such as books, audiobooks, and CDs to programming, technology, and furniture. The Foundation also purchased a digital Clavinova piano that the library uses for performances and the public may use for composing or practicing music.
Recently, the Foundation has funded:
- A 3D Printer that creates three-dimensional plastic objects from digital designs.
- A document feeder for the library’s scanner that allows residents to scan and send to email multiple paged documents.
- A MacBook computer and Apple software for use by the public.
- Playaway Launchpad learning tablets for children. LaunchPad tablets are preloaded with educational apps and games focusing on specific subjects.
- Digital music equipment, including a keyboard, guitar, and software so that people can create and record their own music.
- Programming ranging from cooking demonstrations to computer classes.
- iPads for coding classes for kids and teens.
- The kids and teens Summer Challenge which supports early literacy, reading, art, and STEM learning.
- The online business resource Reference USA which can be used by local businesses to find new suppliers, create marketing lists, and research the business climate for regional areas.
- WiFi hotspots that provide residents with 4G wireless broadband service in their homes or at work.
- A CNC milling machine which is used to cut out or etch 2D designs into a variety of materials.
- Furniture for a maker space for young children.
