Library Exceeds Fundraising Goal of $500K

By Joel Frady

The Ashe County Library Board of Trustees held a press conference on Monday, Feb. 16, at the offices of

Blue Ridge Electric in West Jefferson to announce that the Furnishings and Equipment fundraising campaign for the Ashe County Public Library Expansion Project had exceeded their goal of $500,000.

Planning for the campaign began in January 2008, and fundraising started that February. In that year, the project raised $551,367 including $216,700 in corporate contributions, $67,000 from foundations, $194,263 from individuals or local organizations, $37,403 from fundraiser events, such as George Hamilton IV's benefit concert, and $36,000 in remaining pledges.

Sally Zwadyk, chairwoman of the library's board, said that they gathered to celebrate as they watch the project "becoming a reality on the hill." She thanked the Ashe County Board of Commissioners for having "the vision to see the needs of the future when they voted unanimously to fund this construction" and Holly Minton, an intern of Ashe County Economic Development Director Pat Mitchell, who wrote the grant that earned $50,000 from The Canon Foundation.

She later said "we celebrate and honor today our dedicated group of volunteers who have made this campaign so successful. We celebrate the people and businesses of Ashe County who understand the value and importance of the library to the health and happiness of our community and contributed funds to the campaign." She also mentioned the library's staff, "who fulfill in so many ways the stated mission of the library which is to promote the power of knowledge, the joy of reading and the spirit of imagination; to support and encourage life-long learning; and to contribute significantly to the sense of community and the economic well-being of Ashe County."

Ashe County Librarian Jim McQueen said that the fundraiser's success "means we're going to have one of the best libraries in the state of North Carolina. It's a tremendous achievement. We appreciate everybody that worked so hard to make it happen."

He noted that the project was to furnish both furniture, such as shelving and study desks, and all the electronics for the library, including computers, printers and copiers.

"We're going to buy basically everything new," said McQueen. "We're not going to have to reuse anything that might be substandard that we have now." He noted that they will also be able to hold all the planned special programs in the children's department and, according to McQueen, be able "to make the children's department something really extra special."

The year-long fundraising campaign committee was Hobart Davis, Bradley McNeill, MaryAnne Moore, David Miller, Roy Elmore, Becky Marsten and Jan Noffsinger. Sandy Pinto and Nancy Carter were on the publicity committee, while Gary Wolfe served as the treasurer.

Zwadyk noted that they are still accepting donations. Anyone who donates $500 or more by Saturday, March 28, will also have their name printed on a plaque on the donor wall.

To find out more about the Ashe County Pubic Library, visit their temporary home in Jefferson Station in downtown West Jefferson or call (336) 846-2041.