The Laton Society
The Laton Society was established in 2020 to honor those who support the Library through the creation of an endowment or by naming the Library as a beneficiary in their estate plan. The society is named after Ursala Marie Laton, whose generous estate gift established the Laton Endowment Fund.
Communicate your intentions to include the Library in your estate plan by contacting The Library Foundation, 417-616-0586. You may remain anonymous, but we would love to add your name and story below.
Members
For their generosity and foresight, we are grateful to:
- Melissa Adler →
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"When I moved to Springfield, the first thing I did was find a grocery store. The second thing I did was find a library (maybe not in that order.) My three young daughters were voracious readers who needed a steady diet of board and picture books. The Springfield-Greene County Library District kept their brains well-fed."
"From 2018-2021, I had the privilege of serving as Development Director for the Library. Every day I saw examples of how The Library serves a person throughout their lifetime, often starting at birth. Just like food from a grocery store, libraries sustain us and help us grow. They are the lifeblood of a community. I included The Library in my estate plan for everyone who hungers for knowledge."
—Melissa Adler
Director of Foundation and Corporate Relations, Drury University - Earl M Brake, Jr. →
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"Growing up as a third generation southwest Missouri native, born in Greene County, my fondness for reading was not apparent in my early grade school experience. Truth be told, I had difficulty with reading. That began to change, however, when I first discovered "Cowboy Sam and Shorty" books, and books about famous Americans in history. I then began to develop an interest and appreciation for reading, as well as for the books from the public library. I will always remember the visits to my Springfield public grade school by the Springfield-Greene County bookmobile.
Soon I learned that knowing something was better than knowing nothing.
"Many of us can relate to the impact libraries have had on our own social and intellectual development. Soon I learned that knowing something was better than knowing nothing. The resources provided freely by the public library afforded me the opportunity to explore local cultures as well as that of the larger world I was a part of. I became aware of not only how much I didn't know, but how much there was to learn. This self-realization broadened my world view and opened my mind to new ways of thinking.
"In an ever-changing world in which all people are growing closer together because of our interconnections, it is of increasing importance for each of us to know what is going on in the world. We are becoming not only citizens on a local, state, and national level, but citizens of the world. Public library resources offer us a great opportunity to meet this challenge.
"I, for one, am very grateful for the role public libraries continue to play and the opportunities they offer. I can't imagine a world developing without them. Their place in our society has become interwoven into the very fabric of our American cultural heritage."
—Earl M Brake, Jr.
Retired farmer and high school social studies teacher - Barbara M. Jackson (deceased) →
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"Libraries have long been a vital backbone and foundation of knowledge in their respective communities, and continue serving in that role today. Donations and bequests to the Springfield-Greene County Library system enable it to move forward with the good work that it does. I encourage all to consider gifting their resources of donations and bequests to the library system as they are able, both throughout their lifetime and in end-of-life bequests, as well."
—Barbara M. Jackson
Retired court reporter - Anonymous (2)