The Missouri River Regional Library Foundation has more than doubled its Giving Tuesday donations from last year, raising more than $48,000 as of Wednesday, compared with $23,000 from 2021, according to Claudia Young, director of MRRL.
"I'm overwhelmed with the community's generosity," Young said. "This generous response to our Giving Tuesday ask makes me feel that the community understands that we play an important role."
Young, in her ninth year as director of the library, said the donations will be used to expand the building and its current programs and services, including workforce training, meeting spaces, outreach and other resources.
"With a bigger facility, we can do more," she said.
Young attributed the increase in donations to powerful stories that patrons have shared throughout the year.
The money raised includes a matching donation from Hitachi which pledged Nov. 29 to give $2,000 when a $2,000 donation was made.
In a news release Wednesday, library staff said they are "blown away" by the generosity of the community.
Giving Tuesday runs through the end of the year.