Surprise Bequest Benefits Baltimore County Public Libraries
A former librarian’s legacy is the largest one-time gift in the history of the foundation.
Just three days after the Foundation for Baltimore County Public Library committed to raising a $1 million endowment for its children’s literacy initiative, supporters were shocked to learn they were suddenly halfway to their goal. The foundation received a bequest this week of $475,000 from the estate of Margaret “Peggy” Peterson, a former BCPL librarian, who demonstrated her commitment to libraries in death as she did in life. Peterson, who died in 2006, was a BCPL employee from 1963 until her retirement in 1986, and was known for her love of books. A Baltimore native, she was a life-long library patron, having spent many hours of her childhood inside the branches of Enoch Pratt Free Library (EPFL), according to her friend Lynn Wheeler, …
kathy gambrill
12:27 pm on Saturday, July 9, 2011
How refreshing. Her committment to libraries during her life was comendable but to leave such a gift is remarkable. I've always thought our local (Reisterstown) library was the best deal around. The staff is always ready to help you locate a book, find research materails, use the internet or rent movies. Magazines and newspapers are available and community information. What a gem! more ›