CRANBERRY TWP — Officials with the Cranberry Legacy Endowment said that a new endowment has been created to benefit the Cranberry Public Library.

Bruce Mazzoni, chairman of the Cranberry Legacy Endowment, announced the establishment of the Berman Family Library Fund, sponsored by township residents Michael and Patty Berman and their children.

The fund is the ninth endowment dedicated to the library and the 22nd overall donated to the endowment group.

Michael Berman said that he is involved in a variety of volunteer endeavors, and he said the Cranberry library is the most deserving entity for him and his family.

“Our family seems obsessed by the written word,” Berman said via e-mail. “Books are very special to us in all formats. From my first encounter with the Butler Library Mobile as a small child, I have supported libraries. I hold cards to four libraries.

Berman added that the Cranberry library is, in his opinion, the best library he’s experienced, and that because of reduced funding from the state and federal government, he said it is necessary to help with community needs.

“I want the library to provide the same level of satisfaction for future generations as it has provided me and my family,” Berman said.

“An endowment can keep funding alive much longer than a one time donation. It will provide funding longer after I am gone.”

The Cranberry Legacy Endowment was formed in 2010, and has about $1.4 million in assets, according to Mazzoni. The principal is never used and donations to groups come from appreciation and interest generated by the fund. The minimum amount that can be donated to start a Legacy Endowment Fund is $10,000.

The funds and their donors are listed each year in a report published by the Cranberry Township Community Chest.