The anonymous donor who has given the Washington County Library system $525,000 over the past 20 years has sent another check.

The Washington County Board of Commissioners accepted the $30,000 gift on Tuesday.

Library officials plan to use the money to upgrade projectors and projector screens at the library branches, create community outreach kits and improve the display areas and accessibility of library material in the different branches, said Jacquie Kramer, library director.

“It is a wonderful donation that really helps us augment our services to the county,” Kramer said. “We’re very appreciative.”

The donor first gave a check for $5,000 to the Washington County Library system in 2005. The following year, another check for $5,000 arrived. In 2007, a $20,000 check arrived. Then came checks for $25,000 in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Since 2011, checks for $30,000 have arrived every year like clockwork, Kramer said.Each check is mailed to Washington County via the U.S. Postal Service with a return address listing a trust company in Sioux Falls, S.D. The only stipulation: Library officials must respect the donor’s anonymity.

“We don’t even know if it’s a man or a woman,” Kramer said. “It’s completely anonymous.”

The Washington County Library system receives about $5,250 in other donations from 15 to 20 donors per year, Kramer said. Many of the donations come as “In Memoriam” gifts.

The money is a boost to the Washington County Library system, which circulated more than 2.7 million items in 2024 and operates seven public libraries, three library locker locations and the Washington County Law Library, said Kramer, who oversees an $9.8 million budget and a staff of 100 employees.

For locations, hours and other details on the Washington County Library system, go online to www.washcolib.org.