Novel Night brought in more than $120,000 to support the Wood County District Public Library.
All the money raised by the fundraiser presented by the library’s foundation goes toward buying books and other materials for the library. In addressing the Novel Night crowd on Thursday, Library Director Michael Penrod said that on average libraries send 11.5% of their budgets on materials.
Penrod said the library administration and trustees don’t think that’s enough. Novel Night and other donations allow the WCDPL to boost that to 16.5%. So library patrons don’t have to wait when their favorite author publishes a new best seller. The library can lease multiple copies.
That $120,000 comes on top of the $1,468,497 that has been raised by the auction and dinner fundraiser since it was started in 2009.
Penrod said checks continue to arrive at the library for weeks after the event.
Novel Night features both a live auction conducted by Shad Ridenour and a silent auction.
Attendees, who pay $100 a ticket, get to bid on everything from chocolates and whiskey to a stay at an estate in South Africa.
The live auction concludes with bidders vying to purchase cookies baked for the event by Sue Shank. The six dozen cookies fetched more than $20,000.
Other auction items included a children’s bike, a chances to guest coach for volleyball and women’s basketball, a chance to co-host The Morning Show with Clint Corpe, a pizza oven, a grill, a dinner with BGSU President Rodney Rogers, and artwork.
Novel Night was originally held in Schedel Garden in Elmore, then moved to the library in 2019. During the pandemic a virtual fundraiser was held. Since 2022, Novel Night has been presented in the Veterans Building in City Park.
