December 18, 2023—The Friends of the Berryville Library held their Annual Celebration, December 7, in advance of their annual bake and book sale. The evening was filled with festive holiday décor and food, with a sneak preview of all the bake sale goodies and books on display.
During the meeting, Friends President Shirley Rash, along with Vice President Elaine Floyd and Treasurer Karen Johnson, presented a $10,000 check to the Berryville Library Building Fund, the final installment of a $50,000 pledge made in 2019. According to Shirley Rash, “Long-time library director Carol Ann Stubbs Engskov was the face of the library in the community for over 28 years. We knew early in the capital campaign that we wanted to name an area in the new library in her honor for all she has done for the library, patrons, and the community throughout the years. The Children’s Area seemed most fitting for her, and we are humbled to be completing this pledge. It took a lot of bake sales and local fundraising events to raise this money and we are thankful to all in the community who support the Friends and our library.“ The Friends then voted to donate an additional $10,000 toward the Legacy Project, which will be a feature in the new library depicting the history of longtime businesses, families, or nonprofit organizations with historical connection to Berryville and Carroll County. This donation will allow pictures depicting the history of the library and the Friends to be featured prominently on the end of a shelving unit in the Central Atrium of the new library.
The Friends are in the midst of an end-of-year fundraising challenge for the new library. The goal is to raise $300,000 by December 31, which would be matched by an additional $100,000 from an anonymous local supporter, making a total of $3.2 million raised for the new building. This is the amount needed to set a date to break ground in 2024 as it would leave only $300,000 remaining of the total goal, an amount felt reasonable to be raised during construction.
To date, $175,000 of the $300,000 has been raised, leaving only $125,000 left to raise by year end. “Please consider a donation in December, so we can set a date to break ground. It would be so disappointing not to reach our goal and have to delay the groundbreaking,” Elaine Floyd stated. Library Director Julie Hall added, “We are so close to raising what seemed to be such an impossible amount for so long. We are excited to break ground but, with no local tax monies available to support this project, we know we cannot responsibly do so until we have at least $3.2 million raised or pledged. Now is the time to support this project. A gift to the new library is a gift that will give back to our community for years to come.”
The Friends of the Berryville Library is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization, and all donations are tax deductible. Donations can be made as one-time gifts or multi-year pledges. For more information on giving to the Berryville Library Building Fund or to look at planned giving options, contact Kristy Noble at (870) 654-6565. For more information or to join the Friends, stop by the library at 104 Spring Street or call the library at (870) 423-2323. Membership to the Friends starts at just $10 per person or $25 per family.
### Photo (l to r): Karen Johnson, Treasurer; Shirley Rash, President; Carol Ann Engskov; Elaine Floyd, VP.
