The Eureka Springs Carnegie Public Library has surpassed expectations on a fundraising campaign to expand to the library annex next door that formerly held an antique store. The space is being renovated to provide expansion, Lucilla Garrett, president of the library board, said.
She said the building requires extensive repairs to the foundation, roof and exterior walls. “In doing the work, we discovered there was a lot more to be done than we originally anticipated.”
The library got a boost from a $50,000 grant donated by former Eureka Springs resident, Alexander (Sandy) Stillman, an active patron who bestowed the gift on behalf of the Clarisa Francis Foundation in memory of his cousin, Nancy Campbell Carnegie, wife of James Stillman Rockefeller.
The library started working in June to match the donation and has raised more than $110,000 to date. The expansion will provide additional library services and community spaces, which the board will fine tune at its January meeting.
Garrett said it is estimated that $250,000 will be required for the renovations to make the building next door to the Library Annex at 188 Spring St. useful and functional, and she is excited that more than a third of the amount required has been secured.
“We feel confident that in the coming days and months, the community will rally to help the library make maximum use of the additional building and garden area,” Garrett said.
A Great Expectation Committee formed to promote the fundraising campaign includes Bill Brown, Jodie English Brown, Fran Carlin, Alan Epley, Martha Fargo, Sally Williams Gorrell, Joe Hill, David Jeffrey, Dr. Nancy Preis, Kathy Remenar, Lamont Richie Roberson, and Lucilla Garrett.
It’s easy to help – send or bring a check to the library at 194 Spring St., call (479) 253-8754, or to contribute with a credit card go to eurekalibrary.org/donate.