"The spirit of Tompkins lives also in the operations of its institutions, both public and non-governmental.
The Tompkins County Public Library (TCPL, the Library) is a much-beloved local landmark and institution. Twenty five years ago, I,and my wife Sarla, and our daughter Rajni (the Aneja family), established the Library’s first collection endowment. The endowment is in memory of our son, Sanjay. A student of history and political science, Sanjay was an activist who believed strongly in the need to improve the socio-political status of underprivileged and deprived minorities. So, in tribute, we started a book fund to commemorate his passion and ideals. Perhaps you have checked out one of the numerous books with book plates acknowledging The Sanjay Aneja Memorial Book Fund. We have contributed annually to the Library and ten years ago on the occasion of our 50th wedding anniversary; the family established an additional endowment fund to support TCPL librarians’ professional development. In addition, I served two terms (8 years) on the Library’s Board of Directors, including on its Executive Committee, and the Library Director’s Advisory Council.
Throughout our one quarter century period of interaction, the Library and its fundraising arm, the TCPL Foundation, have been excellent fiduciaries and curators of The Aneja Family Funds and book collection, and have made us feel at home as part of the Library family. For us, the Aneja Family, every visit to the Library, and even every drive on E. Green Street past the Library building on our way home from downtown Ithaca, evokes a veritable mix of memories of our saddest and happiest life events, and a flood of emotions.
As an aside, TCPL’s entire budget for acquisitions is currently supported by donations, including income from many additional endowed funds modeled on the Aneja Family Funds."
