Time to rally behind library

Contributed
Published: July 3, 2008

To the editor,
I write on behalf of the Gordonsville Friends of the Library.  A long-held dream is about to become a reality!  A new library incorporating the adaptive reuse of the old St. Mark’s Church building on Main Street in Gordonsville is planned.  At approximately 6,100 square-feet, the new library will provide collection space, computer workstations, and a meeting room adequate to meet the needs of the Gordonsville community for years to come.
The building and lot have been acquired.  Additional property for the parking lot has been purchased.  The architect has been at work for over a year.  The conceptual drawings are done and paid for, and the board of supervisors recently voted to accept a design scheme.  The architect is now working on the blueprints, which are anticipated to be complete by October of this year (2008).  The total cost to build and furnish the new library is estimated at between $1.1 and $1.2 million.
For this project the board of supervisors has budgeted approximately $750,000 and has indicated that, in this era of cost-cutting, this is what can be anticipated from the county.  They have stated they are counting on the community to supply the other approximately $300,000 to make the project possible.  The county has instructed the architect to obtain bids for a 1,100 square-foot smaller version of the design along with the bids for the 6,100 square foot building. If significant money is not raised privately, the county has indicated that the supervisors will withdraw support from the larger original design and turn to the smaller bid alternate that will offer reduced facilities.
The county plans to bid the project as soon as the blueprints are ready and community-raised money needs to be committed by that time-that is, by approximately September 2008.  We recognize that this is a very large amount of money to raise within a very tight timeframe, which why we need your help.  Major donors are being sought and grants pursued, but many of these avenues have been explored already, and the county has indicated that only a massive showing of financial support from the community will permit this much-anticipated library to be built. 
By now, hopefully, you are asking, “What can I do?”
We ask you to participate in and support our fundraising efforts. Additionally, we ask for individuals, families, businesses, and civic organizations to donate.  Please recognize that even small donations demonstrate community support!  And remember, Gordonsville Library serves as the home library to patrons from Louisa, Albemarle, and Greene Counties and circulates much of its materials to other branches of the Orange County Public Library, so we are counting on donations from all over the area.  Over $50,000 has been raised already and the goal is achievable with widespread community support.
Gordonsville Friends of the Library is registered as a non-profit organization and donations to the library fund are tax-deductible.  Contributions may be mailed to:
Treasurer, Gordonsville Friends of the Library, 19385 Briar Patch Drive, Gordonsville, VA 22942
Thank you for your support!

John Floyd
Barboursville