The Helen Kate Furness Free Library was founded in 1902, and our founding principles of fostering life-long learning and personal enrichment live on today. Our commitment to the community of providing equal access to information, technology, gathering spaces, and expert staff continues to guide our direction.
There are several ways that you can help support the library’s operations: donate to our annual appeal, participate in a corporate matching gifts program, volunteer your time at the library, serve on the board, shop our used book sale, or purchase a bookplate.
Annual Appeal
The Library’s operating fund is comprised of contributions from Nether Providence Township, Rose Valley Borough, Delaware County, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, grants, fundraising events, and – our most critical effort – our annual appeal for donations.
Helen Kate relies on the support of donors. Will you lend your support? You’ll see your generosity reflected in the vitality of this important community institution.
Member Owned and Supported Since 1902 is not just a tagline. Unlike most public libraries, HKF is organized as a not-for-profit corporation. Make a contribution of $50 or more and become a voting member of the corporation, entitling you to participate in the Annual Corporation Meeting and election of the Board of Directors.
Make your gift online by visiting our secure donation page.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Dedicate a Bookplate
The perfect gift for book lovers! With a gift of just $25, a bookplate inscribed with your loved one’s name will be placed inside a book at the Helen Kate Furness Free Library. Find out more about dedicating a bookplate.
Memorials
Honor the memory of a special person with a memorial donation in remembrance. We’ll send a one-time notification of your generous gift to the recipient or loved one you designate.
Make your gift online by visiting our secure donation page. You may also mail a check to the Helen Kate Furness Free Library, 100 N. Providence Rd, Wallingford, PA 19086
. Please indicate the person this gift is in memory of and let us know who we should notify of your gift.
Planned Gifts
Support Helen Kate now and in future generations, too, by including the library in your will or other estate plans. Read more →
Matching Gifts
If you are a library donor, now is the perfect time to check with your employer about matching gifts. This simple benefit can be impactful, immediately translating to supplies for a children’s program or a few more books the library can purchase to lend to the community.
Many companies provide matching gifts as a type of philanthropy in which they match your charitable contributions. Sometimes this benefit even extends to charitable donations made by spouses or retirees. Many companies also provide a charitable donation to your nonprofit of choice for just volunteering a couple hours and logging it in the company’s system of record.
Essentially, if your donation or hours volunteered qualifies for your employer’s charity giving program, your company will send an additional donation to the Library.
Please contact your company to inquire further details as programs vary.
Used Book Sale
Our book sale is located on the upper level (2nd floor) of the Helen Kate Furness Free Library. It includes hardbacks, paperbacks, and children’s books. There are a ton of great titles to choose from and there are new selections each week! Find out more about the Book Sale.
Volunteer
The Helen Kate Furness Free Library has a strong tradition of dedicated volunteers, which has been significant to the success of our beloved library. Helen Kate relies upon the support of volunteers to provide quality service to our community. Find out more about Volunteer Opportunities.
Book Donations
The Helen Kate Furness Free Library accepts books that are in good condition. The library does not accept textbooks, encyclopedias, Reader’s Digest Condensed Books, magazines, or materials that are in poor condition.
Donated books are sometimes added to the library’s collection in accordance with its Materials Selection and Access Policy. However, most of them are sold by the Board of Directors and the Book Sale Committee at our on-going used book sale located on the second floor of the library. The proceeds from these sales help support the library.
Book donations can be dropped off on the covered front porch of the Helen Kate Furness Free Library on Sundays from 8:00 am – 6:00 pm. If you would like a receipt for tax purposes, please speak with a librarian during open hours and we will give you a form for your records. The library will not place a value on the materials donated.
Please help us by only dropping off book donations on Sundays only when we have volunteer assistance.
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of our budget is generated by fundraising.
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of our budget is provided by local government.
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