Eugene Public Library receives $1.1 million gift

Link to November 15 oregonlive.com post.

A local doctor left the Eugene Public Library $1.1 million when he died in 2004 — money the library is finally receiving.

The gift from physician Frederick Rankin only recently cleared probate, and it’s the centerpiece for an event marking the library foundation’s 25th anniversary.

Eugene attorney Larry Deckman, the foundation’s vice president, says he thinks the money will be used to buy new books and support the library’s general operations.

The foundation is hoping the gift will inspire others to remember the library in their wills or estates. It plans to announce a “1 percent for the library” campaign, in which it will ask people to leave 1 percent of their estate to the library.