Cary Library Foundation
2026 Annual Report
Funding Pages, Programs, and Possibilities
Dear Friends,
Since 1999, the Cary Library Foundation has embraced the responsibility and privilege of supporting Cary Memorial Library and its central place at the heart of Lexington. We are profoundly grateful for the generosity and dedication that have shaped our organization, the Library, and the lives of all those who visit 1874 Massachusetts Avenue.
The challenges facing libraries across the United States are complex, and yet we are fortunate that our community prioritizes learning and the free exchange of ideas. This makes the Library’s role in our town both vital and profound.
A key to all we do is people–our volunteers and leaders and donors like you–whose hours spent on our work and the dollars donated to our mission keep us thriving.
This inaugural annual report highlights our achievements in the past year and shows the impact our fundraising has on the Library and our Town.
Thank you for being part of something bigger than yourself: for ensuring Cary Library is an open and inviting place for all Lexingtonians, for underwriting programs for all ages, from infants to seniors, and for expanding the Library's collection of books and materials.
Most of all, thank you for being part of a legacy that reaches beyond today. With your help, our work at the Cary Library Foundation ensures Cary Library will continue to engage minds and enrich our community for many years to come.
With gratitude,
Kimberly Hensle Lowrance
Board President
Mary Ann Sorel
Executive Director
Dear Friends,
Since 1999, the Cary Library Foundation has embraced the responsibility and privilege of supporting Cary Memorial Library and its central place at the heart of Lexington. We are profoundly grateful for the generosity and dedication that have shaped our organization, the Library, and the lives of all those who visit 1874 Massachusetts Avenue.
The challenges facing libraries across the United States are complex, and yet we are fortunate that our community prioritizes learning and the free exchange of ideas. This makes the Library’s role in our town both vital and profound.
A key to all we do is people–our volunteers and leaders and donors like you–whose hours spent on our work and the dollars donated to our mission keep us thriving.
This inaugural annual report highlights our achievements in the past year and shows the impact our fundraising has on the Library and our Town.
Thank you for being part of something bigger than yourself: for ensuring Cary Library is an open and inviting place for all Lexingtonians, for underwriting programs for all ages, from infants to seniors, and for expanding the Library's collection of books and materials.
Most of all, thank you for being part of a legacy that reaches beyond today. With your help, our work at the Cary Library Foundation ensures Cary Library will continue to engage minds and enrich our community for many years to come.
With gratitude,
Kimberly Hensle Lowrance
Board President
Mary Ann Sorel
Executive Director
With your donation, the Foundation can help the Library to bring resources, programs, and innovations to life.
Role of the Foundation
Doesn't the Town fund our public library?
And the answer is yes...to a point. The Town of Lexington funds the operating costs of the Library, but the “extras”–the things that make the Library vibrant and engaging for all ages–come from private support, mostly the Cary Library Foundation.
The Foundation raises private funds to enable Cary Library to offer creative programs to the Lexington community, expand its digital and physical collections, and invest in innovative projects, among other initiatives.
“Without the Foundation, we could turn on the lights, we could open the doors, we could answer the questions, but we couldn’t do everything else — offer programming, art displays, engaging spaces, innovative technology, and community gatherings where people share each other’s passions and talents. That all comes from donor dollars. All of it.”
Have you attended a Library program?
83% of the cost of programs last year were sponsored by the Foundation. That includes most of the programming for adults, as well as programming for teens and children, from photo classes, to author talks, to the Teen Council, to the Fairy Tale Ball.
Do you read e-books?
E-books are increasingly in demand, but the cost to libraries for these materials is much higher than the price of a physical book and higher than the price an individual would pay. Additionally, they are often purchased via a license which limits the number of check-outs. The Foundation’s funding eliminates or reduces wait times for in-demand titles.
Do you want to see the Library thrive into the future?
In FY2026, contributions through the Foundation added $127,500 to endowment funds that support children’s programs and resources and provided $100,000 to establish a new endowment fund for future capital and building needs. Additionally, $110,000 in Bequests and $27,633 in named endowed gifts were received last year. Legacy and planned gifts have a transformative effect on the Library and help the Foundation and the Library plan for the future needs of the community. These funds generate income for the Library’s use each year.
Impact of Foundation Funding
Distribution of Funds
$462,213
Total amount of funds transferred from the Foundation to the Library in FY2026.
🟧 Endowments for Designated Purposes $155,163
🟪 General Endowment Bequests $110,000
🟦 Capital/Bldg Endowment $100,000
🟥 Annual Grant to Library $84,500
🟩 Designated Gifts $12,550
How funds are distributed to the Library
The Annual Grant - The Foundation provides annual operational support to the Library, used for programming, materials, and special projects.
Designated Gifts - These "one time" infusions of money are for a designated purpose. These gifts come from individuals or institutions and are spent within the year they are donated.
Gifts to the Endowment - These are designated as follows:
Unrestricted - If the donor has not specified a purpose for their gift, these gifts are transferred into the Library’s Unrestricted Endowment
Restricted - These gifts either add amounts to existing named funds or establish new named funds for a stated purpose. The Library Board of Trustees determines how much, if any, of the income from the endowment is distributed to the Library annually, to be spent according to the individual fund’s purpose.
Capital Campaigns - These occur periodically as needed. In FY2026, the Board of the Foundation set aside $100,000 in a capital fund for future projects.
Annual Grant Funding
$84,500
The Foundation awarded the Library a total of $84,500 in its annual grant and special event funding in FY2026
🟥 Adult Programs $31,500
🟧 Digital Content Purchases $20,000
🟨 Children's Programs $10,000
🟩 Professional Development $9,000
🟪 Teen Programs $7,000
🟦 StoryWalk® $4,000
🟫 IDEA Wall Installations $3,000
The Lower Level children’s and teen spaces were under construction for most of FY2026, which meant that many programs for all ages could not be held or had to be moved, and thus the budget for programming was lower than usual.
Programming
In FY2026, the Foundation funded 163 programs, or about 83%, of the cost of the privately funded programs held at the Library.
Adults
The largest set of programs to receive support, the Foundation funded 135 programs that 7,016 people attended or watched virtually. The most attended program was Rising Beyond Limits: A Fireside Chat with Lhakpa Sherpa, Mountain Queen, which was attended or watched by 284 people within the month after the event.
Children
The Foundation funded 9 programs, including the Fairy Tale Ball in May, which was attended by over 500 people. Thanks to the Foundation, the Library was able to offer one of the most popular virtual programs, Kids Cooking Green.
Teens
The Foundation funded 19 programs attended by a total of 376 people, including the Teen Study Stress Relief program. The Foundation support also allowed the Teen Library Leadership Council to return to the Library when the Lower Level reopened in March.
Idea Wall Installation
The Library's 16-foot IDEA Wall exhibit, the focal point of the New Books/Living Room area, hosted two community projects in the spring of FY2026:
A Community Bookshelf, inviting Library visitors to contribute their favorite titles
An installation supporting the Adult Summer Reading program
A Community Bookshelf, inviting Library visitors to contribute their favorite titles
StoryWalk®
The Library maintains two StoryWalk® installations in Town—at the Lincoln Field Athletic Complex and at Parker Meadow conservation area—both originally installed with Foundation donor funding.
Each walk is refreshed six times a year, for 12 total rotations. The Foundation funds all costs of the StoryWalk®.
Digital Content
E-books, digital audiobooks, and streaming collections (digital content) are one of the Library’s top circulating collections. They are also one of the Library’s most expensive collections to grow and sustain, with demand continuing to outpace the Library's general materials budget. The supplemental funding from the Foundation allowed the Library to get an additional 2,218 titles into the hands of Lexington residents, eliminating wait times for book clubs and school summer reading titles and reducing wait times for the general public.
Professional Development
Two members of the Library’s programming team attended the Public Library Association (PLA) conference in Minneapolis in March 2026 — the first national conference attendance by Library staff since 2020. These team members brought back their experience to be integrated into their and their colleagues’ work at the Library, and they presented their conference experience at the Foundation Board’s May meeting.
Financial Highlights
Thanks to our donors, the Cary Library Foundation funds an annual grant to the Library for current year programs and resources, as well as capital, designated, and general endowments for future needs.
In FY2026, our total revenue from all sources of donations was $375,905. Our expenses exclusive of transfers to the Library were 18.5% of our revenue, meaning that $0.815 of every dollar raised supports the Library.
The Foundation created a capital endowment for future building needs and funded it with an initial $100,000. Additionally $127,500 of monies designated for children’s programs and from the Children’s Room and Lower Level Renovation Project (ChiRP), which were raised in previous years, were transferred to the Library. As the ChiRP project came to completion in March 2026, we were released funding previously earmarked for the project, which accounts for the expenses in excess of net revenue in FY2026.
In addition, because of the generosity of donors who made bequests to the Foundation through their estate planning, we were able to fund the general endowment with $110,000. The Foundation also received $27,663 for endowments for designated purposes.These funds generate income to meet the future needs of the Library for years to come.
For our complete financial information, see our Financial Statements and Form 990.
Library Stats at a Glance
Did You Know?
Cary Library historically ranks in the top 10 busiest libraries in Massachusetts by circulation.
FY2026 Circulation by the Numbers
906K Total Circulation
306K In-person Visits
686 Programs Offered
23.1K Registered Borrowers
327 Door-to-door Deliveries
244,747 Total Holdings
FY2026 Circulation by Audience
Print, audiovisual & digital circulation - 779,414 items (excludes database sessions)
🟨 Children - 41% (318,819 items)
🟦 Adults - 35% (269,734 items)
🟧 Digital, (all ages) - 20% (153,560 items)
🟩 Teens - 4% (7,301 items)
Digital Circulation
E-books, digital audiobooks & streaming video - via Overdrive (Libby), Hoopla, and Kanopy
🟥 Adults - 78% (20,271 items)
🟨 Children - 15% (23,215 items)
🟦 Teens - 7% (10,261 items)
Hoopla does not have a Young Adult category, so it contributes no checkouts to that audience. As of the end of FY2026, Kanopy does not distinguish checkouts by age, so all of Kanopy usage is counted under Adult.
FY2026 Programming
Programs and attendance by audience.
Despite the closure of the children’s, teen, and meeting spaces until March 2026, the Library continued to hold programs at the Library and through community partners. In fact, the number of programs offered and number of attendees (both in person and online) has increased since 2022.
A total of 686 programs were offered in FY2026 with an average attendance of 37.6 persons.
🟦 Adults - 53% (365 programs)
🟨 Children - 39% (268 programs)
🟩 Teens - 8% (53 programs)
Key Accomplishments and Programs
Children's Room and Lower Level Renovation
The Foundation raised over $750,000 in prior years to help fund the renovations to the Children’s Loom and Lower Level meeting room, which reopened in March 2026. The new spaces are colorful and welcoming and allow for more innovative programming for children, teens, and adults.
Interview with Alissa Lauzon, Assistant Director of Youth Services at Cary Library
How has the renovation of the Children’s Room improved services for children and youth?
The renovation has modernized our space creating a space that is more active and flexible. It is brighter, more cheerful, and has a different vibe and energy that matches the needs of today's kids. It also improved sightlines around the room for safety and physical access to the space for all users; increasing accessibility for patrons.
What’s different about what you can offer due to the renovation?
The room offers a lot more seating for children to curl up and enjoy a book in comfy chairs and quiet nooks as well as more tables for studying. Our play space allows for caregivers to sit and engage with their children in meaningful play that develops core early literacy skills. Our Activity Room is now able to be deployed as an "Activity Zone" where a variety of fun and engaging activities for kids from preschool to elementary school are accessible for kids to explore during times when the room is not needed for Library events. The new flooring in our Activity Room allows us to do more messy and creative programming for kids without worrying about damaging carpet. We also have the ability to offer accessibility to patrons with hearing loss with the room's assistive listening technology that was unavailable in the Children's Program room previously.
What’s your favorite new addition to the Children’s Room and why?
There are so many things that I love about the room that it is hard to pick a favorite - but there are two things in particular that I call out when asked. The first is the universal changing table in one of the restrooms. Accessibility is super important to me, and that everyone is able to use our Library and use the restroom with dignity is something that I think is super important. Also, to my knowledge, I believe that we are the only public Library in the Commonwealth with a universal changing table. I also love the play space, particularly the new stand that we are able to change the theme of every few months. We opened the room set up as a Vet Clinic. Then it became a Farm Stand over the summer, and this fall it has become a Pizza Parlor. I adore watching the imaginative play from children of all ages and the engagement between children and their caregivers in this space.
Donors to the Foundation sponsored the Youth Services Desk, the Study Nook, a Cozy Nook, a Kids’ Study Area, a Kids’ Seating Area, a Lego Display case, as well as many book collections.
The Foundation held an event to celebrate the grand reopening of the Children’s Room and Lower Level meeting spaces.
StoryWalk®
StoryWalk® is a fun, interactive, educational experience for children. Located at the Lincoln Field, in collaboration with the Lexington Recreation & Community Programs, and at Parker Meadow, in collaboration with the Town of Lexington Conservation Department, children can immerse themselves in stories while enjoying the outdoors in all seasons.
StoryWalk® was originally funded by supporters to the Foundation, and both continue to be funded 100% thanks to the generous support of donors to the Foundation. Each location’s storyboard is switched out every two months.
Fairy Tale Ball
Each May, children and adults alike don their favorite Fairy Tale costumes and attend a ball at the Library, including a Sensory Hour. With music and dancing upstairs, and activities and stories downstairs, the atmosphere is like right out of a storybook. After being on hiatus because of the construction at the Library, the ball returned in May, and over 500 people attended. The Foundation is a proud sponsor of this annual–and very popular–event for children and caregivers alike.
Adult Programming
Adult Programming offers enriching opportunities for learning, cultural exploration, and community connection. Highlights from FY2026 include:
In partnership with the Korean-American Organization of Lexington, we celebrated Korean heritage through red ginseng and a hands-on bojagi gift-wrapping workshop.
We also collaborated with LexSeeHer and Indian Americans of Lexington to host mountaineer Lhakpa Sherpa, who has climbed Mount Everest 11 times, more any other woman in the world. Her extraordinary achievements and inspiring stories of courage, resilience, and perseverance captivated attendees. Over 100 people attended the Lhakpa event in person, and another 180 watched it on the Library’s YouTube channel.
Architectural historian and Winchester resident John McConnell delivered an illustrated lecture exploring how the world came to see the restored Notre Dame Cathedral in a way it had not been seen in nearly 800 years. He examined the vision that guided the restoration, the leadership and coordination behind the monumental undertaking, the countless skilled craftspeople who brought it to life, and the unprecedented outpouring of public philanthropy that made it possible. About 43 people attended the event in person, and another 86 watched the recording on YouTube.
Dr. Kerry Burnight joined us for a virtual program in partnership with several Massachusetts libraries to discuss her book, "Joyspan: The Art and Science of Thriving in Life's Second Half." Joyspan gives readers the tools to build resilience; forge meaningful, lasting relationships; discover purpose; and redefine aging as something to celebrate. Over 240 attended the virtual program, and another 409 watched it on the Library’s YouTube channel.
Thank You, Donors!
We are deeply grateful to our donors who strongly support our mission and who give to us in many ways. Individuals can give to us by check, online, through donor-advised funds, or distributions from IRA accounts. Gifts to endowments and from planned giving through our Legacy Society have a long-lasting impact and generate income for the Library for years to come. Businesses and organizations can support us through sponsorships, partnerships, and in-kind giving. More information about giving can be found here.
Thank you, donors, for keeping Cary Library engaged and inspired!
Maria Hastings Cary Legacy Society
Established in 2007, and named in honor of the Library’s founder, the Maria Hastings Cary Legacy Society recognizes those who have provided for the Library in their estate plans.
LEGACY SOCIETY DONORS
Anonymous (2)
Howard Benjamin
Diana J. Bishop
Jan Brandin
Kerry Brandin
Linda Cohen
Norman Cohen
Robin B. DiGiammarino
Alan Fields
Gail Fields
Pamela Fowler
Sandra Galejs
Jill Hai
Mary M. Hastings
Paul Levine
Randi K. Levine
Bruce A. Lynn
Ruth Nadelman Lynn
Duncan MacQueen
Susan A. McLeish
Joseph N. Pato
Betsy Pollack
E. Ashley Rooney
Marc Rubenstein
Carole H. P. Stavenhagen
Joseph Stavenhagen
Shirley H. Stolz
Amantha Tsaros
Albert Zabin
Judith Zabin
Jeri B. Zeder
LEGACY DONORS
Spotlight: Linda and Norman Cohen
Linda and Norman Cohen take “sticking with it” to another level. These two pillars of the Lexington and Library communities are reminders that dedicated citizens—who volunteer their time, finances, and care through good times and bad by embracing needed change for thoughtful evolution—get something profound and transformative in return: an unshakeable sense of belonging.
Even as Lexington grew and changed over the 60 years the Cohens have lived here, they feel the Library has remained the heart of the town and most deserving of their support.
Norman became involved in town politics when he ran for Town Meeting in the early 1970s, winning his election on the first try. He then became Town Counsel, serving as the lawyer for Lexington for many years. After working closely with town officials and board members, he was urged to run for the Select Board, then called the Board of Selectmen, where he served for 12 years. During that time, he also served as president of the Cary Library Board of Trustees.
Linda became an avid patron of the Fletcher Free Library in her hometown of Burlington, Vermont, at a very young age when she obtained her first library card. She made sure their three children had their own library cards so they too could experience the pleasure of regularly reading a variety of books borrowed from the Cary Library shelves.
Their two daughters and son loved story hour and the many activities at Cary Library geared toward their age groups. Their daughters even became student pages at the Library during their early teenage years.
Linda became a member of the Friends of Cary Library shortly after the building's renovation. She coordinated the volunteers for many years. Linda also served on committees, helped set up numerous book sales, and priced “special books” for the ongoing book sale.
Norman is very proud of the role he played in making the purchase of the Community Center a reality. He made the initial call to the Master of the Lexington Masonic Lodge upon learning they were interested in selling a portion of their Lexington property. He suggested that the Town of Lexington would be interested in obtaining this beautiful building for its citizens, which ultimately led to the establishment of a new and much-needed Community Center for the town.
Perhaps best of all Norman’s accomplishments was urging the search committee—of which he was a member—to hire Koren Stembridge as the director of Cary Library.
Further cementing their lifelong dedication, Linda and Norman have chosen to become legacy donors to the Cary Library Foundation, ensuring their contributions will continue to support the Library even after they have passed away. Through this lasting gift and their decades of steadfast service, the Cohens prove that when you truly “stick with it,” the profound sense of belonging you build becomes a legacy that nurtures the community for generations to come.
You can help ensure Cary Library is enjoyed for generations to come through your estate plans.
Institutional Support
The Foundation also offers businesses and organizations meaningful ways to support our mission by being a sponsor. The Foundation also partners with local community and cultural groups to organize events or programs at the Library. Our Grant Partners offer funds to support designated programs, while our sponsors support the general needs of the Library. Levels of sponsorships and benefits can be found here.
Grant Partners
Dana Home Foundation
Library Initiative for Teens and Tweens
Platinum Sponsors
Rockland Trust Foundation, Inc.
Lions Club
Gold Sponsors
Lester Savage
O'Brien & O'Neil LLP
Rotary Club of Lexington
Wingate Wealth Advisors, LLC
Silver Sponsors
Beth Sager Group
Coppe & Sears Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
Gregg, Hunt, Ahern & Embry
Korean-American Organization of Lexington
INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT
Spotlight: Rockland Trust Foundation
Jessica Carrillo, the Lexington Branch Manager of Rockland Trust Bank, said they chose to become a Platinum Level Institutional Donor because it “provides us with a meaningful opportunity to support the Library and the many ways it serves and connects our community. We believe Cary Library plays an important role in providing resources, programs and opportunities that enrich the lives of individuals and families throughout the community.” One way their investment will be evidenced in the Lexington community is through the Lincoln Field and Parker Meadow StoryWalks® where families can read picture books posted page by page along outdoor trails. Rockland is sponsoring these this winter.
Ms. Carrillo added, “Our continued partnership reflects Rockland Trust’s commitment to investing in the communities we serve. We are proud to support the Library’s ongoing efforts and to help ensure that it can continue providing valuable services, programs, and opportunities for the community for years to come. It’s truly a place for all!”
The Cary Library Foundation is grateful for Rockland Trust, and our other sponsors, for their partnership and ongoing support.
Endowment Donors
July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026
Endowment gifts are a wonderful way to create a legacy. Endowed funds are invested strategically to preserve their original value and generate income, and are used to support the Library’s work and the Endowment's purpose for current and future generations.
Anonymous—for the General Fund
Anonymous—for the Harriet B. Hathaway Fund
Jean Cole—for the Martin K. White Fund
Federica Cushman—for the Tanya and Janna Cushman Fund for Literacy
Bruce and Anne Dawson—for the Harriet B. Hathaway Fund
Fred and Martha Hess—for the Harriet B. Hathaway Fund
Raymond Hubbe—for the Harriet B. Hathaway Fund
Beverley and Peter Kelley—for the Ruth Edna Schuh Kelley Fund
Andrew Lindsay—for the Harriet B. Hathaway Fund
Laurie Ohlms and Ben Smith—for the Harriet B. Hathaway Fund
Susan Silk and Tom Lincoln—for the Harriet B. Hathaway Fund
Bob and Carol Zeh—for the Harriet B. Hathaway Fund
Annual Fund Donors
July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026
A full list of all donors who gave to our annual fund at any amount for the year July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 can be found here.
Board of Directors
2026-2027
Board of Directors
Kimberly Hensle Lowrance, President
Maria Kieslich, Vice President
Susan McLeish, Treasurer,
Dipti Lenhart, Clerk
Indramani Anandakumar
Eric Baim
Pratip Banerji
Louise Barbic
Christine Belin
Leslie Brunner
Haegin Chang
Wei Ding
Chandrika Govardhan
Ravneet Grewal
Sylvia Han
Erin Hartel
Jane Kalinski
Marjan Kamali
Laura Mark
Victoria Nessen
Youngsheen Park
Geoffrey Pechinsky
Beth Sager
Steven Singer
Elizabeth Xu
Mary Ann Sorel, Executive Director
2025-2026
Board of Directors
Kimberly Hensle Lowrance, President
Maria Kieslich, Vice President
Susan McLeish, Treasurer,
Dipti Lenhart, Clerk
Indramani Anandakumar
Pratip Banerji
Louise Barbic
Christine Belin
Leslie Brunner
Bill Cole
Wei Ding
Chandrika Govardhan
Ravneet Grewal
Sylvia Han
Erin Hartel
Marjan Kamali
Christine Manavian
Laura Mark
Youngsheen Park
Elizabeth Xu
Mary Ann Sorel, Executive Director
