By Traci Chapman/Staff Writer
published Dec. 27, 2007

An anonymous donor is making it easier for Mustang residents to make and keep a New Year’s resolution to help the planet.

Friends of the Mustang Public Library is sponsoring the gift, which totals almost $18,000, in order for the donor to remain anonymous, president Carolyn Klepper said.

“She is a Mustang resident, but she does not want to be named or recognized,” she said. “She just wants to be part of helping Mustang become more energy efficient.”

The donation is broken down into two amounts, of which $17,000 will be used to purchase compact fluorescent light bulbs. Bulbs will be distributed to every adult library member who presents a library card, Director Desiree Webber said. A drawing will also be held in which five to 10 Mustang households will have their entire house outfitted with energy-saving CFLs.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, if every American home replaced just one regular light bulb with a CFL, the United States would save enough power to light more than 3 million homes for one year, prevent greenhouse gases equal to the emissions of more than 800,000 automobiles and save more than $600 million in energy costs annually.

Webber said the library hopes the donation will help educate residents — both adults and children alike — about the importance of conservation.

“We hope this will help people see the benefits of energy savings while at the same time perhaps bringing new people to the library,” she said.

Klepper said the project is a first for Mustang, and she said she hopes it will introduce the library to people who haven’t experienced what it has to offer.
“I was delighted when this came up,” she said. “It gives us a great opportunity to promote the library.”

In addition to the CFL bulb distribution, Webber said the benefactor donated an additional $700 to purchase books about energy conservation, different types of power and ways to help the planet. Library staff members are currently cataloging the purchases.

“We were able to buy about 25 to 30 items with that donation,” she said.

Light bulb distribution will begin Wednesday, and the new books will be available for check-out the same date, Webber said.