GUELPH – Wellington County’s library system will benefit from a posthumous donation of more than a quarter-million dollars.
At the Nov. 30 county council meeting, Wellington County library board chair councillor Mary Lloyd announced the library is one of the beneficiaries of the estate of Jon Gregg Murray, who bequeathed the county library system $257,640.
“On behalf of Wellington County council and our residents, I would like to thank Mr. Murray for his generosity in supporting the Wellington County Library,” stated Warden Andy Lennox in a press release issued by the county.
“Mr. Murray’s incredible donation recognizes the important role the library system plays in our communities. Through services, programming and collections, libraries educate, engage, and enrich the lives of our residents.”
Murray was a resident of Caressant Care retirement home in Fergus and was an avid user of library outreach services provided at the home, which in turn inspired him to leave a portion of his estate to the library, the release states.
Lloyd told county councillors the board was notified of the bequest a few months ago.
“When he was in Caressant Care, he was a beneficiary of our outreach program that takes library materials into long-term care facilities for an opportunity to borrow. And because of that contact with our outreach librarians, we have touched his life so that he chose us as one of his beneficiaries,” she explained.
“The Wellington County library board would like to publicly acknowledge this incredibly generous donation to our library system.”
Lloyd added, “Libraries offer free access to educational resources, entertainment materials and special programming for all ages.
“Mr. Murray’s donation will help to ensure that special outreach will continue bringing the services to our residents where they live in care facilities. Thank you, Mr. Murray.”
The release states the library board looks forward to having the additional funds available “to further enhance its library system.”
