A frequent question I hear these days is, "When are you going to start building that library." I wish the answer was tomorrow, but "Rome wasn’t built in one day" and I am learning that neither is a library.

Last fall the consulting firm of Hodge Cramer & Associates conducted a feasibility study to determine community attitudes toward a library building program and to determine the amount of support for a capital campaign. The information gathered strongly supported a building project and indicated that a capital campaign would have widespread support in the community. Other results of the study included the following:

• The overall perception of the library is positive, and the library staff is considered the major strength of the library.

• Space is seen as the area most in need of improvement.
• Many people said they would be willing to volunteer with the fundraising effort.
• Of those interviewed 79% said a building program was needed, and a larger percentage said they would give financial support to the project.

Based upon this study, planning is now underway for a community-wide capital campaign. The Scottsbluff Public Library Foundation will lead the way in this effort. Presently, the Foundation Board is being restructured with this in mind. The goal of the capital campaign will be announced when the new Foundation Board is in place. Pre-campaign preparation will include the recruitment and training of volunteers. During the spring an educational effort will commence to explain the project and the need to the community. Major donors will be sought. In the fall the public campaign will begin in conjunction with a celebration of the 40^th birthday of the present library building.

In the meantime, please visit the library and look at the floor plan and architect’s rendering of the expanded building. We are interested in your thoughts and excited about the future and the place of the library in our community. Stay tuned--more to come!

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