We plan to put these funds toward our major capital improvement project, which is now moving forward.
This once-in-a-generation project will restore and transform our 125-year-old Carnegie Library into a modern, refreshed, and accessible community space, while preserving the historic character that makes the building so special. With a total project cost of more than $3 million, this effort will prepare the library for its next 125 years of service.
Much like the original construction of the library, this project represents a major investment in the future of our community. The work is currently planned as a two-phase project, supported through a combination of library reserves, a State Aid for Library Construction grant, a CDBG grant, a DRI grant, additional fundraising, and other funding sources to close the remaining budget gap.
When I realized our 125th anniversary coincided with the nation’s 250th birthday, it felt like the perfect moment to think bigger. By bringing together these funding sources, we have a rare opportunity to prepare our historic library for its next chapter, so that one day, this community can gather again to celebrate the library’s own semiquincentennial.
This story was submitted by a Carnegie Library that received a $10,000 gift as part of the Carnegie Libraries 250 initiative. Did your library receive a gift? Share how you’re spending it here.
