Summer 2026
Dear Penn Yan Community,
Currently, Penn Yan Public Library (PYPL) leadership is planning for the future. Multi-year phased building upgrades will begin in the coming months, all in anticipation of offering a more welcoming, modernized, and accessible facility to the public. The main entrance and restrooms will be updated first and future phases will include a new overall layout with refreshed interior design finishes, furnishings, and an additional small public meeting room. All improvements are possible with significant New York State Library Construction Grant funding, a grant from the American Library Association, and support from the Carnegie Corporation. Currently, more applications are being made to charitable foundations, but the most important funding will come from our community of PYPL supporters.
There are numerous opportunities for library supporters to contribute to this long planned for project.
Donate in-person or by Mail
Supporters can send their donations of any amount to:
Penn Yan Public Library
214 Main St.
Penn Yan, NY 14527
Donors can choose to be acknowledged on combined donor wall plaques to be placed in PYPL when the project is nearing completion. Supporting amounts will be delineated in the following fashion on the plaques.*
* Beginning with donations already made to the Fall 2025 Capital Campaign.
Patrons- $250-$500
Advocates- $501-$1,000
Champions- $1,001-$2,000
Benefactors- $2,001 and up
Supporters may purchase a brick with the special Building Master Plan logo (as seen above) to be placed outside in the PYPL Outdoor Learning Center for $100.00 each. Payment must be mailed or dropped off at PYPL.
Naming Opportunities*
Donors can have areas and/or furnishings named in honor or memory of a living or deceased individual, corporation, foundation, or organization.
Major physical areas that can be named with individual wall plaques.
Circulation Desk area -The Friends of PYPL will be contributing this item
Tutoring/Meeting Room – $50,000
Youth Services Children’s area – $150,000
Youth Services Young Adult area – $150,000
Yates County Law Library shelf and desk space furnishings- $5,000.
Vestibule – $80,000
Adult collaborative area $150,000
Adult and Youth Services Section furnishings to be named on combined donor wall plaques
Large Stationary shelving unit end caps $2,000 each
Movable shelving units – $4,000 each
Tables, large and small – $1,000-$3,000 each
Chairs, upholstered and hard backed – $400-$2,500 each
Study and computer desks – $1,500- $3,000 each
Contact Penn Yan Public Library with your questions at pypl@stls.org or call 315-536-6114.
* Naming Opportunities Policy
Purpose
This policy applies specifically to Naming Opportunities in connection with the PYPL Building Master Plan Capital campaign begun in 2025.
Definitions
Naming Opportunity – The opportunity to name a room, area, collection space, furnishing, a piece of equipment, artwork, technology or other interior or exterior space in honor or memory of a living or deceased individual, corporation, foundation, or organization as grateful recognition of the donor’s gift.
Named Space or Item– A named room, area, collection space, furnishing, piece of equipment, artwork, technology or other interior or exterior space in honor or memory of a living or deceased individual, corporation, foundation, or organization.
Naming Recognition Agreement– The documented agreement between the Donor and PYPL memorializing the named space or item. (See Appendix E.)
PYPL Building Master Plan Capital campaign– A specific campaign to renovate PYPL begun in 2025.
Naming Opportunity gifts made to PYPL Building Master Plan Capital campaign
The PYPL Board has the sole and absolute discretion regarding Named Space or Item gifts. In no event will the Donor be provided with any decision-making power over the library on operational or capital decisions, or in any other library process or activity. Gifts will be used to enhance, not replace any kind of PYPL project funding or operational support. The Board reserves the right to refuse gifts that are not consistent with the PYPL Building Master Plan Capital campaign. Should this project not proceed for any reason, the Donor reserves the right to rescind the gift or agree to redirect it towards another use. If the entire gift amount is not received by PYPL as agreed upon, the Board may, in its sole discretion, remove the Donor’s recognition of the Named Space or Item and offer the Donor an alternate recognition opportunity appropriate to the total amount of the Donor’s Gift.
Acknowledgement
– A Named Space or Item will be memorialized in a Naming Recognition Agreement which will grant the Donor the ability to assign a specified name to a particular space or item which is subject to acceptance by the Board and consistent with this Policy.
-The Board reserves the right to choose the wording, size, location, and style of Recognition of a Named Space or Item. Visual recognition of a Named Space or item will adhere to the PYPL brand standards.
Modification
-Recognition shall not extend beyond the normal, useful life of any room, area, space, or furnishing. If during the useful life of the Named Space or Item, the space or item is closed, deconstructed,
destroyed, severely damaged, significantly renovated, upgraded, modified, or replaced, then the Naming Recognition Agreement shall cease.
– In some cases, if a space or items is still in use, the Library may make changes to signage to maintain and update facilities but will make efforts to ensure that the signage still reflects the appropriate recognition for the donor.
-Requests by Donors to modify their recognition signage will be considered by the Board. Changes that require additional expense will be done at the donor’s expense.
Termination of a Naming Recognition Agreement
-The Board reserves the right to alter or terminate a Naming Recognition Agreement in the event of the default in payment of the gift or in the unusual circumstance that the Board determines in its reasonable and good faith opinion that circumstances have changed such that accepting the gift, or the naming chosen by the Donor would adversely affect the reputation, image, mission or integrity of PYPL should there be continued association with the Donor via the Naming Recognition.
-Should the Naming Recognition Agreement be terminated, the Board will have no further obligation or liability to the Donor and shall not be required to return any portion of the gift that has already been paid. The Board may choose an alternative recognition for the portion of the gift that has been received.