Douglaston-Little Neck Library Launches Fundraising Effort

There is currently no money to buy books at the Douglaston-Little Neck Public Library. But, the branch's employees and local volunteers have come up with creative ideas to raise funds - and increase fun.

On Thursday, the library, located at 249-01 Northern Blvd. in Douglaston, held its annual spring bash with live music, story-telling and a wine-and-cheese buffet. 

But organizers also took time during the two-hour event to plug the Buy-A-Book program, which allows sponsors to customize the tomes they donate.

With a $25 donation, a patron can have a name - his, hers or somebody else's -engraved in a book. Gifts totaling $50 or more get two bookplates, while a $500 bequest begets a customized shelf and $2,500 payment prompts a customized stack.

And the Queens Library Foundation has agreed to match every donation made to the branch dollar for dollar, said Leiman Johnson, president of the Douglaston-Little Neck branch's Friends group.

Johnson said the Friends group, which consists of volunteers who enrich the library, will organize more fundraising events soon. At this time, the branch has no money in its book budget and can no longer open its doors on Saturdays.

"Can you imagine zero dollars to buy books at a library?" she asked. "This community is very upset."