This week on Emphasis, Rich Egger’s guests are Macomb Public Library Director Dennis Danowski and Capital Campaign Co-Chairs Melissa Inman and Judy Kerr.
They talk about the campaign to raise $794,025 by June 30, 2013. If that goal is met, the state will provide the library with a $2.38 million grant.
The nearly $3.2 million total will be used to build a two-story addition that will almost double the library’s space.
Kerr said this follows the model established when the community’s Carnegie Library was built in 1904.
“Communities at that time had to also participate and provide part of the funding,” Kerr said. “No city got a library for nothing.”
Danowski said steady progress is being made in the capital campaign.
“We’re a little bit over the $300,000 (mark). A third of the way to our goal,” said Danowski.
Donations are tax deductible. Checks should be made out to Campaign for the Future.
Inman said they appreciate that so many people have already stepped up to the plate and made generous donations.
“This is a one-time hit, so to speak. We want to capitalize on it because it would be such a shame to see this opportunity go by and have another library receive our funds if we’re not able to raise it,” Inman said.
The interior of the addition will be designed especially for children, provide more storage space for books, allow for more computer stations, and include a community meeting room.
The exterior will be designed to blend in with the original building.
