Full Text:

Banks And Corporations Help Launch Library's Capital Campaign

(with cuts)

BY DOROTHY EVANS

Several businesses in the Greater Danbury area, including the Union Savings

Bank and Branson Ultrasonics Corporation, have stepped forward with

contributions to the Cyrenius H. Booth Library's new capital fundraising

campaign.

They join Chase Bank and the Newtown Lions Club, two organizations that have

already contributed to the growing fund.

"This is just the start," predicted library board member James Larin, in

charge of the endowment committee that has launched the capital campaign.

"With the new library building, there are lots of equipment needs in many

areas. We decided to go out and ask the business community to help out," Mr

Larin added.

The board decided that initiating a capital campaign was necessary since the

newly renovated library has added 21,914 square feet to the pre-existing 1931

building.

No longer simply a repository for books, the new Cyrenius H. Booth Library

must serve the growing Newtown community's information needs, Mr Larin added,

as an up-to-date media center in every sense of the word. To achieve this

goal, additional furnishings and specialized equipment are needed.

The board has set a capital fund goal of $200,000, which will complement the

library's ongoing budget and other endowment sources.

Bank Gives $5,000

The first contribution to the capital fund was made last week by the Union

Savings Bank, headquartered in Danbury.

Charles F. Frosch, president and chief executive officer, toured the Booth

Library with Nora Melville, manager of the bank's Newtown branch.

Library board member Dick Sturdevant, who is chairman of the board's finance

committee, and Library Director Janet Woycik accompanied Mr Frosch on the

tour.

"We are very happy to have the opportunity to make a leadership contribution

to the capital fund, and to serve as an example to others to help reach your

$200,000 goal," Mr Frosch said, presenting a check for $5,000 to Mrs Woycik.

"As a mutual savings bank, we are actively involved in the community," he

explained.

"Our staff members also are involved as volunteers for many local

organizations and civic projects. I'm pleased that we are able to play an

integral role in the future of the Booth Library and its service to the

community."

Branson Adds $1,000

According to Ed Samuels, vice president and general manager of Branson

Ultrasonics, it seemed perfectly appropriate for the Danbury-based corporation

to be boosting the Cyrenius H. Booth Library's capital fund.

"We want to support the community of Newtown and this seemed a very good way

of doing it. Also, it seems like practically our whole staff lives there," Mr

Samuels added.

Branson Ultrasonics Corporation, located off Eagle Road in Commerce Park,

manufactures ultrasonic equipment and plastic joints, as well as cleaning and

welding equipment.

Mr Samuels met with Mr Larin of the library board Monday morning at the

company's Eagle Road entrance for a photograph commemorating Branson's $1,000

donation.

"This will be added to donations we already have," Mr Larin said, "from the

Lions Club of Newtown, the Chase Bank and Newtown Savings Bank, and it will be

spent on equipment and furnishings."

The most immediate need, according to Library Director Janet Woycik, is to

provide equipment for the music room - specifically, a computer with CD-ROM

drive, CD players with headsets and a CD collection.