The Library Foundation is the grateful beneficiary of a new annual lecture series. This new program is being supported through a permanent endowment, with a generous $1 million gift. The proceeds of this endowment fund are creating and supporting an annual Mary S. Stern Lecture.
To select the lecture topic and presenter the Library has formed the Mary S. Stern Lecture Committee. “Bringing important conversations and driving community dialogue has always been an important aspect of Library programming,” said Kimber L. Fender, the Eva Jane Romaine Coombe director. “Mrs. Stern’s desire to establish this endowment continues the lifelong legacy of generous support of her family. We are thrilled to be able to create this new program.”
“Our public library is special,” said Stern. “It has always been a place of inspiration and knowledge for everyone in our community—and it is important that it continues its work into the future.”
Mary S. Stern, and her late husband Joseph. S. Stern Jr., made a lasting impact on the Library since his co-founding of the Friends of the Public Library in 1957. Mr. Stern was appointed to the Library Board of Trustees in 1961 and served until 2003. Upon his retirement, Library Trustees conferred upon him the honorary lifetime title of Trustee Emeritus, in recognition of his 42 years of service.
“The Stern family commitment to the library and the foundation is wonderful,” said Scott Richards, foundation board chair. “The dedication to creating accessible and purposeful programming is central to how the Library Foundation supports the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.”
The Library Foundation is dedicated to ensuring a great Library system by raising, managing and allocating funds to expand and enhance the collections, programs and services of the Library. For more information and to donate, visit Foundation.CincinnatiLibrary.org.
