Library Update - Bev Russell, Library Director

(This column appeared in the May 6, 2007, Star-Herald)

 

I am frequently asked, "When are you going to get that library built?" The past several months, the library capital campaign has been in a "quiet time". Many wonderful people opened their homes as Library Board, Foundation, and staff members provided information on the building project. The receptions are winding down, and the planning for the capital campaign is well underway. We can now say that 2007 will be the year of the library.

It has been over 40 years since the library came to the community, requesting support for a building project. Because we don’t come asking for support often, we made sure we created a vision for the library that would last another 40 years. The 21^st Century library is more than just a warehouse for books—it is a gathering space for people. The Scottsbluff Public Library is the community’s living room. It is a safe haven for children after school—a place where teens can interact—where adults can enjoy a quiet read—where students, genealogists, and others can do in depth research. It is a place that the entire city can call its own.

Our patrons drive everything we do. They spoke, and we listened! Scottsbluff citizens emphatically endorsed leaving the library in its current location. Our vision for the Scottsbluff Public Library is to remodel and expand the present building to 23,010 sq. ft. at a cost of $4.1 million. The cornerstone of the library will be a state-of-the-art children’s and teen area. The expansion will also provide ample space for books, CDs, DVDs and periodicals, a computer lab, enlarged meeting space, quiet zones for individual and group study, a room dedicated to genealogy and historical research and better parking for all. Because we can not predict the future, we designed the library with a one-story, open floor plan so that it can be adapted to future needs. The present building served the community well for over 40 years. The goal is to remodel and expand the current library building so that it can serve the city for another 40 years.

To raise the $4.1 million dollars for the remodel and expansion, the City of Scottsbluff and Scottsbluff Public Library Foundation are sharing the cost in a public/private partnership. Along with public funds (which are already in place) additional funds will be sought through grants and philanthropic giving (a capital campaign). Your money will go further because of the public funds. This project will not increase taxes. A bond issue is not planned.

This brings us up-to-date. Such a big project takes planning, and we thank the community for its patience as we (Library Board, Foundation Board, and Library staff) took the time to plan this effort carefully.

So, "When is the library going to be built?" The time is NOW! This summer and fall we will be coming to you for your support. Please remember—we don’t come to you often—just once every 40 years or so. The Scottsbluff Public Library is a legacy to each generation. It offers the heritage of the past and the promise of the future. Your support can impact the legacy. The year 2007 is the year of the library. By the end of the year fundraising will be complete and we will celebrate a successful campaign at the Scottsbluff Public Library, "The Community’s Living Room".

 

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