Help the Library play on

by Kayla Cook, Media Relations & Communications Specialist

Public libraries are all about connecting information to people in a harmonious way, so the Library’s Friends & Foundation partnering up with Love Garden—a local buy, sell, trade store for music on Massachusetts Street–made for a perfectly in-tune duet. If the public library was an album, Kelly Corcoran, owner of Love Garden, is a feature on a track Library staff would never skip.

Corcoran helps countless hours at the Library, regularly buying CDs from Library stock that are donated to us that we can’t use. Those CDs are then sold at Love Garden in the store’s beloved dollar bin. If community members want to support the Library through this program, the public can donate CDs they no longer spin directly to the Love Garden. Half of the proceeds from the dollar bin, regardless of where the CD was sourced from the Library or not, benefits the Library. This fundraising model was beneficial for the Library in over a thousand dollars in proceeds this year (over $5,000 total since 2021) and goes to show how a little bit can help a lot.

As the Library isn’t known for CDs in terms of our quarterly media sales (more widely-known as “book sales”), our partnership with Love Garden provides wider reach for sales and donations to folks who wouldn’t otherwise make the trip over to the Library.

“The Friends of the Library are thrilled to continually partner with Love Garden. Kelly often speaks of the beauty in the resurgence of CDs–a beauty in listening to an album in its entirety, a beauty in at-home music libraries–big or small–as each tells a story, and a beauty in how music can unite people of different ages and backgrounds,” said Angela Hyde, Friends & Foundation Program Coordinator.

This communal experience of uniting people who may otherwise not interact over a shared interest is also represented in Libraries. Bond over local music through the Library’s streaming service of commercial-free, curated music from the Northeast Kansas region, Kaw Valley Jukebox.

The Library also has big music sales, the last resulting in $14,000 in proceeds to benefit the Library. Our next media sale in partnership with Audio-Reader Network, an audio information service for individuals who are blind, visually impaired, or print disabled, will take place in 2024–FRI, Jan 19 from 6:30-8:30 PM and SAT, Jan 20 from 12-6 PM. We can’t wait to see you there!

“Through the love of music, people support the Library without even knowing it by supporting Love Garden!” Hyde gushed.

Discs moving through the hands of different folks from home to home speaks to the unifying factor of music, similar to a well-circulating, well-loved library book. Thank you to everyone who knowingly and unknowingly helps this Library and our resources play on.

Our thanks to the following individuals who helped made our last music sale such a huge success. Audio-Reader Network volunteers Ed Hawkins and Mary Chapman, Austin Turney who donated Classical music, and the Brian Kirby Estate.

Article originally found in the Reader: Lawrence Public Library News & Events Calendar

About Lawrence Public Library
Lawrence Public Library (LPL for short) is a community hub that believes in the power of connecting with each other through shared knowledge and resources. Located in the heart of Downtown Lawrence, Kansas, we are committed to providing a space where our community can learn, connect, create, and grow through access to our vast collections, resources, services, programs, and knowledgeable staff. The library is supported by tax dollars, record-breaking book sales and philanthropic efforts by the LPL Friends & Foundation, and the dedicated efforts of more than 300 volunteers. All are welcome.