NLCL Foundation Newsletter PDF Download
North Lake County Library Foundation
Plants some seeds, Read.
The renovation of the North Lake County Public Library began in April with the move of the library to temporary quarters at the United Methodist Church at 301 16th Ave. East. On May 1st Martel Construction began the deconstruction of the former space and all the librarians, Library Trustee Allen Bone, and Foundation president Connie Brownell had the opportunity to swing the sledgehammer and make the first holes in the walls. The excitement that morning was contagious as with each swing of the sledgehammer we realized that our dreams for an updated library were becoming a reality.
In early 2020, when the NLCL Foundation developed the fundraising plan for the “Next Chapter Campaign” we estimated, with information from the library’s former architect, that $2 million was a worthy goal to complete our plans for a renovated library within the footprint of the 33‐year‐old building. Our Foundation team learned how to tell the story of the infrastructure and technological requirements needed to become a library for the 21st century, and community organizations, businesses and individuals showed their support for this worthy project. Grants were also received from foundations throughout Montana and as of June 1, 2023, we are happy to announce that our pledges plus actual received donations total $1.97 million!
We are thrilled that we have been able to nearly reach our $2 million goal. As we all know, the pandemic has affected the costs of materials and labor when it comes to construction. The current renovation costs put us approximately $250,000 short, which does not include the cost of furniture and shelving in the new space. So, the Next Chapter Campaign is still going strong and we need your help!
We have received two additional pledges totaling $135,000, but there’s a catch.
These donations are for matching funds. What does this mean?
Your $50 gift will become $100
Your $250 gift will become $500
Your $1,500 gift will become $3,000
Your $10,000 gift will become $20,000
We hope to raise $350,000 ‐ $400,000 before the end of this fall when renovations are set to be completed. Our community has shown such wonderful support for this project. Drive by the library building and see how much has been completed in just over a month! You can also watch the interior progress on the library’s website www.northlakecountylibrary.org.
Spread the word and help us turn this $135,000 into $270,000! Every donation
helps and we thank you so much for your support!
With your help, we can make it to the finish line!
Please use the Donation Form to print and to to mail your gift or visit the Foundation website for ways to direct your gift to this worthy community project:
North Lake County Library Foundation
P.O. Box 74 Polson, MT 59860
Bestselling author Mark Sullivan lent his support to the Next Chapter Campaign at an author talk and signing hosted by the North Lake County Library Foundation in August. The event included a silent auction and raised $15,000 for the effort to renovate the library.
“We had 150 people attend the event and are grateful for the community’s generosity,” said Connie Brownell, president of the North Lake County Library Foundation. “The renovations supported by this event will create a larger, more efficient space and allow for more programming and improve ADA accessibility.”
Sullivan brought a special guest, Bill Martel, to the signing. Sullivan’s book “The Last Green Valley” follows the story of Martel’s family fleeing Ukraine from the Russians during World War II. The story is a brutal, complex, and ultimately triumphant tale that illuminates the extraordinary power of love, faith, and one family’s incredible will to survive and see their dreams realized. Sullivan is also the author of “Beneath a Scarlet Sky.” His storied career ranges from selling souvenirs at Fenway Park to investigative journalism. His work includes novels written with James Patterson and many novels of his own.
“We’d like to thank Mark Sullivan and Bill Martel for supporting us and coming to our event, and for the generous sponsors and donors,” Brownell said. “Author events and other community programming should be a staple in our community, and we’re excited to be able to offer more events in our new space.”
Thanks to our generous sponsors: Big Sky Century 21, Pure Health, Savoir Faire, Gage Accounting, and Nelson Homes, Inc.
The Next Chapter Campaign has reached $1.6 million of its $2 million goal. To donate to the library renovation please contact Connie Brownell at nlclfoundation@gmail.com or go to www.polsonlibraryfoundation.org.
With $1.6 million raised, the Next Chapter Campaign needs your help now to reach its $2 million goal. Gifts can be made by mailing a check or donating online at www.polsonlibraryfoundation.org.
“We’re thankful for our Foundation Board’s leadership and our generous community helping us reach $1.6 million,” said Connie Brownell, president of the North Lake County Library Foundation. “Now we need everyone to give and share about the campaign so that we can reach our final goal.”
The renovation funded by the campaign will create new dedicated spaces for programming, especially the children’s and youth programs, and Next Chapter Campaign Gets Closer to its Goal it will allow the library to continue offering much needed public computers, free Wi-Fi, and help with technology devices.
“The library is a vital resource for our growing community but is stretched to capacity with a space that hasn’t been updated since 1989,” said Abbi Dooley, library director of the North Lake County Public Library District. “The renovation will provide room for our expanding programming, space for more technology support, and make the library welcoming and accessible to all users.”
If you’re interested in learning more about the Next Chapter Campaign, contact Connie Brownell at nlclfoundation@gmail.com or go to www.polsonlibraryfoundation.org.
Issue 8 | 2022
Having reached $1.5 million of its $2 million goal, the Next Chapter Campaign now asks
the entire community to make gifts to the campaign through its website at www.polsonlibraryfoundation.org.
“Our community relies on the resources we provide at the library, but with a growing population, outdated building and staff eager to add additional programs and services, we are finding it difficult to fulfill our mission of – a contemporary center of literacy and lifelong learning for all users – without making these key improvements”, said Abbi Dooley, library director of the North Lake County Public Library District.
Since moving to the corner of 1st Avenue and 1st Street East in 1989, minimal structural improvements have been made to the library. The goal of the Next Chapter Campaign is to modernize the facility while increasing accessibility.
Next Chapter Campaign Launches Public Phase “Our volunteer Foundation Board has worked diligently with our generous community for the last 18 months to raise $1.5 million,” said Connie Brownell, president of the North Lake County Library Foundation. “We are grateful for the support received so far and are eager to reach our goal to make this dream a reality for our area.”
Each year, the North Lake County Public Library District serves thousands of individuals and families through programs like children’s story hour, Humanities Montana lectures, and technology assistance services. In fiscal year 2019, nearly 60,000 books, e-books and audio books were circulated to library cardholders.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Next Chapter Campaign, contact Connie Brownell at nlclfoundation@gmail.com or go to www.polsonlibraryfoundation.org.
North Lake County Library Foundation | nlclfoundation@gmail.com | P.O. Box 74 | Polson, MT 59860
The Greater Polson Community Foundation
pushes forward the reality of an improved library with a generous gift of $100,000 to the North Lake County Library Foundation’s Next Chapter Campaign.
“The services the library provides to our community are vital,” said Toni Young Whealon, Greater Polson Community Foundation president. “We are honored to grant this support to improve the children’s area, technology resources, accessibility, and more.”
The Next Chapter Campaign has raised $1.5 million towards the $2 million project that focuses on renovating the library’s existing footprint to make key improvements.
Greater Polson Community Foundation Gives $100,000
“With simple, meaningful modifications, we can transform the current facility into a 21st Century library that the Polson community can be proud of,” said Connie Brownell, North Lake County Library Foundation president. “Now, the library’s physical appearance and functionality will match the caliber of the service already provided within the space.”
The updated library will repurpose an existing 2,000 square feet and will include a new entrance, ADA-compliant accessibility, more room for programming including updates to the children’s area, and space for vital computers and technology equipment.
The Next Chapter Campaign will bring a new ADA-compliant entrance, expanded children’s and youth areas, a coffee area, more room for computers and a Makerspace to the North Lake County Public Library District. The project is designed by Mosaic Architecture of Helena. The campaign has raised $1.5 million of its $2 million goal.
Learn more by contacting Connie Brownell at nlclfoundation@gmail.com.
Possibilities from Next Chapter Campaign
New technology programming and more technology equipment will be a reality with the renovations of the North Lake County Public Library District. “The renovation is going to make it easier for me to help people and set us up for success,” said Technology Librarian Sierra Ross. “We will be able to expand into new areas and explore creativity with the makerspace.” Ross is a native Montanan with a love of reading, a background in history and holds a master’s degree in library science.
According to Ross, data from this year shows that the library’s computers are used over 300 times a month and Wi-Fi is used 1,500 times a month. She helps library visitors daily with their technology needs. “With the renovation, I will be visible to patrons,” said Ross, whose desk currently is in the back of the library. “That’s going to increase my ability to help people. Being accessible to people and taking away any barriers can prevent someone from feeling like they can’t ask for help.”
An all-ages makerspace will be added to house the 3-D printer and other maker equipment. Patrons will be able use the space for projects. Patrons currently use the library’s computers for important tasks like job applications, legal forms, taxes, homework assignments, starting small businesses, creating forms and printing resumes. “Computers and smart phones have become so integrated into daily life, which is why it’s important public libraries provide services and tools of digital literacy,” said Ross.
The additional space created by the campaign will allow for more computers in the public computer area and in the study rooms. The study rooms will have more flexibility as a meeting room with a partition Technology Librarian Excited for New Possibilities from Next Chapter Campaign that will allow the two rooms to be combined for small groups and meetings.
“The library’s technology programming helps patrons use the library’s digital resources, learn new computer skills, and explore special topics like genealogy research, cybersecurity, and self-publishing,” said Ross. With the Next Chapter capital campaign, Ross is looking forward to expanding the reach of technology programming by providing options for virtual attendance.
Current Technology Offerings
• Wi-Fi for own devices
• In-person help for technology devices and
apps
• Printing from public computers or personal
devices
• Microsoft Office and Adobe software on
public computers
• Hotspots for 14-day checkouts
• Kindle e-Readers for checkout
• Help books on technology devices
• Public copier with free scanning and faxing
• Wide variety of digital resources
• Apps for digital resources for digital loans
• Ancestry genealogy research in library or
on website
• Managing library accounts online or with
an app
• Digital access to magazines, films and
documentaries
• Online technology tutorials on the library
website
Excitement over growing the library’s programming and supporting the community through the Next Chapter Campaign are fueling Felicia Gill’s efforts since joining the North Lake County Public Library District in January 2021 as the Youth Services Librarian.
“The library is so important,” Gill said. “It gives families a safe, welcoming place to come to and it gives them access to so many things they need, like early-education programs, books, and internet!”
Gill is in charge of programming and outreach for kids of all ages. Through the Next Chapter Campaign, the story-time and Mother Goose programs she currently runs for young children will gain more room for their activities, and give the library space to add new programs. The Next Chapter Campaign goal is $2 million and has raised over $1.35 million to date.
“I love doing interactive books for story-time and our outreach Story Shuttle visits,” Gill said of her children’s programming. “I try to do one each week.” A recent favorite of hers and the children during story-time was High Five by Adam Rubin. The kids participated in the story by high fiving the book.
The library offers a 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten reading program for newborns through Pre-K, and a very popular summer reading program that has had over 1,000 registrants in years past. Many businesses and organizations in the community support these programs by offering incentive coupons or prizes for participants meeting reading goals.
“I really love interacting with the children and being able to offer these important programs,” Gill said. “It’s kind of hard to believe that my job is to read stories and sing songs with kids.” Gill uses her bachelor’s degree in literature and creative writing and work experience at the Barnes and Noble children’s department to enhance her programs. She has seen these programs grow since the library resumed offering in-person programming for children. Gill looks forward to the expanded children’s area.
The additional space will allow her desk to be stationed in the kids’ area so she can easily help new readers discover a favorite book, and will allow for more play and programming space.
Children’s Area Expands with the Next Chapter Campaign
Continuing to offer and expand youth programming at the North Lake County Public Library District is vital for readers of all ages to grow their love of literacy and lifelong learning.
“We’re excited that two of our programs, Mother Goose for young children and story-time for preschool children, are each meeting once a week after being virtual, and bringing in kids and their families to experience the library,” said Connie Brownell, president of the North Lake County Library Foundation.
Because of space constraints, these programs are currently held in the meeting room. The Next Chapter Campaign will provide a dedicated space in the children’s area which will be larger and open for kids to play, learn and explore.
The renovation project will not only provide more programming space, but will also create equally important play space for kids of all ages. A dedicated space that is safe for infants and toddlers to explore and play will be incorporated into the children’s area. Lower shelving for books will help parents and caregivers keep an eye on older kids by providing line of sight throughout the library.
To learn more about the Next Chapter Campaign, please contact Connie Brownell at nlclfoundation@gmail.com.
Glacier Bank Polson Branch Vice
President Shauna Rubel.
Rubel learned about the library’s importance while serving on the Greater Polson Community Foundation Board.
“Learning what’s available for everybody, adults included, was pretty eye opening,” said Rubel as she noted library services for adults including computers, technology classes, and the ability to copy and fax documents. With Glacier Bank’s support of the Next Chapter Campaign, the library will have the opportunity to serve and support even more people throughout the area.
The North Lake County Public Library Foundation’s Next Chapter Campaign is excited to expand the Library’s essential technology services to the community through the upcoming renovation.
“COVID-19 has highlighted the importance for virtual learning and remote working,” said Connie Brownell, president of the North Lake County Library Foundation. “We see how vitally important technology is for everyone, and the library is committed to offering the community a safe place to access reliable internet and technology.” The bigger interior space will allow the library to have more computers for adults and a dedicated kids’ computer section. The plans also include a dedicated Makerspace to house the library’s 3-D printer and offer a space for community members to utilize special equipment for creative projects.
“We’re proud to offer tech support to our patrons as well as computer and Wi-Fi access, printing, copying and faxing, and access to our 3-D printer,” Library Director
Abbi Dooley said.
The library currently offers nine public access computers, two kids’ game computers and reliable Wi-Fi throughout the facility. During the 2019 fiscal year, there were 7,612 internet sessions launched from computers and nearly 20,000 Wi-Fi sessions from patrons’ personal devices.
To support the Next Chapter Campaign contact Connie Brownell at nlclfoundation@gmail.com.
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