GENESEO, N.Y., Jan. 17, 2025 — Livingston County is proud to support the OWWL Library System with a $110,000 funding allocation included in the county’s 2025 budget.
The financial backing illustrates the county’s strong commitment to the non-profit organizations that support the local community. Serving the residents of Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming, and Livingston Counties, the OWWL Library System includes a total of 42 member libraries with eight of these located in towns and villages throughout Livingston County.
“The county is committed to helping ensure that every resident has access to the essential resources and services our local libraries provide," said Livingston County Board Chair David LeFeber. “As spaces that foster community engagement and lifelong learning for all, we’re proud to continue our ongoing support of these invaluable public resources.”
The county’s funding will go directly toward local programming, collections, and operations at the Livingston County OWWL member libraries in Avon, Caledonia, Dansville, Geneseo, Lima, Livonia, Mount Morris, and Nunda, said OWWL Library System Executive Director Ron Kirsop. The support will enable these libraries to enhance their core services and meet evolving community needs in several key ways, such as strengthening their ability to provide equitable access to information and technology, upgrading digital resources, expanding Wi-Fi access, and ensuring workstations remain current and accessible to all community members.
Local libraries will also be able to expand their educational and workforce development programs through the county’s support. This translates to more early literacy initiatives, programming for youth, job search assistance, and digital skills training for adults. With more than 20,000 current OWWL Library card holders living throughout Livingston County, this funding directly benefits many residents and their families.
“Perhaps most importantly, these funds will allow libraries to be more responsive to unique local needs,” stated Kirsop. “Whether that's expanding collections, increasing outreach services, or developing new programs based on community input, these libraries can better tailor their services to their specific communities. Essentially, this funding helps libraries fulfill their fundamental mission of providing free and open access to information, education, and opportunity for all members of their communities.”
Kirsop invited county residents to join the OWWL Library System for their new four-county library tour, which began January 1, 2025. Those interested can pick up a custom map at any OWWL Library and embark on an adventure exploring local libraries with their family. After visiting each library in a county and checking it off the provided map, participants will earn a special prize when they complete the set.
For more, visit the OWWL website at https://owwl.org/ for free online resources like Libby, Kanopy, Mango Languages, ASL Inside, and Consumer Reports.
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About Livingston County:
Founded in 1821, Livingston County, N.Y., is home to more than 61,000 residents in 17 towns located across 631 square miles of the Finger Lakes region.