If you walked past the Aurora Public Library District the evening of Saturday, Dec. 4, you may have been surprised by what you heard. The Atrium of the Santori Library was transformed into a rocking piano show full of laughter and fun! The event, Cruisin’ Through the Decades, was held by the Aurora Public Library Foundation to raise funds for a new modern Bookmobile to serve Aurora residents.
Foundation manager Laura Stoney explained: “The Aurora Public Library District Foundation felt that a dueling piano show would be fun and different. We wanted our supporters to have just that, fun! And we are so pleased that the feedback has been just that, people had fun and look forward to another performance next year!”
The event and silent auction raised enough money to provide funds for more than 18,100 more miles of Bookmobile service for the residents of Aurora and the construction of their new Bookmobile! To date, 120,000 miles have been funded and the Foundation plans to realize 35,000 more miles at $2.75 per mile to get the Library where it needs to be for 2022.
Since 2009, the Foundation has been host to a yearly-auction event. The funds raised help fill the gap between the Library’s operating budget and what is needed to most effectively serve Aurora residents. Currently, these proceeds are going toward the new Bookmobile and the distribution of literacy packets to vulnerable children during the COVID-19 pandemic. In partnership with the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry and the Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry, the APLD Foundation has provided more than 18,000 literacy packets on their “Feed and Read” mission.
Because of their dedication and hard work, both the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry and the Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry were presented with the 2021 Lifelong Learning Inspiration Award during the December 4 event. The Lifelong Learning Inspiration Award is in honor of Richard and Gina Santori for inspiring everyone to be lifelong learners through their own lives. Previous recipients are the Aurora Police Department, the Kiwanis Club of Aurora, Dan and Theresa Barreiro, and Gina Santori. Another winner of the evening was Michael Isaacson, assistant director for Community Health at the Kane County Health Department. He was presented with the 2021 Thomas J. Weisner Excellence in Education Collaboration award for his commitment to providing accurate and timely information to organizations and the public throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Congratulations and thank you to all the winners for their dedication to the community and the Aurora Public Library District!
For more information about the new Bookmobile visit www.aplfoundationil.org/Bookmobile.
Andrea Tiberi is the communications coordinator for the Aurora Public Library District.