Fundraising for the Brights Grove Library Expansion project is off to a booming start.
Community members and members of the Brights Grove Library Committee (BGLC) gathered Tuesday at the library for the announcement of the official start of the campaign.
"I've doubted it numerous times over the five years that I've been involved, but the donors who have come to us without us even asking have put so much wind in both our sails to stay the course and fight for this, and it is going to be amazing when it is built. People are going to love this," said Mark Moran, co-chair of the Brights Grove Library Committee.
The gathering was not only to celebrate those who have already donated but to officially launch the community fundraising campaign for the project.
"We're at $735,000 now, pledged of a $1 million campaign, not that we can't go over that, and we haven't asked anyone for money, except for one group, three weeks ago, because we haven't really had that opportunity and that wherewithal to do that yet. Now we can, and we're eager to get started," said Moran.
Groups that have already donated include the Huron Grove Foundation, the Sue Park Foundation, and the Norman and Judith Alix Foundation. During Tuesday's event the Brights Grove Optimist Club announced a donation of $50,000.
The library expansion project has been in the works for many years and will include renovations to the current building as well as an over 7,000 square foot addition.
"The building expansion project was driven by the community's desire for a modern and accessible public building right here in Brights Grove that would continue to provide access to valued traditional library service, but will now also be able to provide new services," said Manager of Library Services, Darlene Coke. "Libraries across the globe have moved away from places that simply hold books to places where people meet, where people use technology that they learn through play, or that they can access other government or community resources, like help with job searching, or the ability to access online appointments with medical professionals, educational institutions, or other professional services."
Other improvements include accessible washrooms, a chair lift, improved operational spaces and moving the gallery space currently on the second floor to the main level.
There is no official timeline for construction, but the BGLC hopes to have shovels in the ground by the end of the year.
Sarnia City Council approved the Brights Grove Library fundraising framework and associated donation recognition agreements during a recent council meeting in an 8-1 vote, with opposition from Councillor Terry Burrell.
