ParsaCommunityFoundation

The Persian Language Advisory Committee and The Sacramento Public Library Foundation recently hosted the 12th annual Persian Night Celebration to raise funds for the library's extensive Persian language resources. Held on September 6, 2008, this event benefited the Sacramento region's 27 libraries, which include the Persian language collection's 2,000 titles, 15 magazines and newspapers, 800 CD and videos and 2,500 volumes. Proceeds also benefited the Committee's speaker series and Persian language courses held at the libraries. They have raised $400,000 since 1996.

The Committee has been so successful that during this most recent fundraiser, they sold over 200 tickets, surpassing their goal of 150. The event notably reached out beyond the Persian community to include 30% non-Iranian guests, such as the California State Librarian Susan Hildreth, Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo, Rancho Cordova Mayor Linda Budge, and California Secretary of State Debra Bowen. The Committee’s dedication towards preserving Persian heritage and embracing the efforts of multiple generations serves as a success story that can be duplicated at many of the other libraries around the country that have Persian collections and members. For more information about the event, please visit the Sacramento Public Library Foundation.