Excerpt: This city of 12,190 along the Rock River in southern Jefferson County is accustomed to doing things on its own. And the impressive library project was no exception.
The city paid for $2.5 million of the work but the remaining $3 million came from the private sector, including $1.5 million from the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation, which challenged the community to come up with the balance.
The foundation, started in 1973, has helped build bike trails, restore the historic water tower and renovate the city's historical museum. It also provided funds for smaller projects such as buying sheet music for the city band, trees at the high school tennis court and a climbing tower for the Boy Scouts.
The library is one of the foundation's most visible and heavily used projects in its history.
The project increased the size of the building to 33,000 square feet from 21,000 square feet.
Space Saver Corp. in Fort Atkinson also donated $100,000 worth of shelving.
"People love our library," said Ann Engelman, chair of the library board. "It's like going home. So there will be support to help make this library successful."
Fort Atkinson isn't alone in its efforts to improve library services. Prairie du Sac, Mineral Point and Fitchburg are among the area communities where fundraising has been instrumental for proposed projects.
Related articles:
Library to have pervious driveway. (2/3/2011)
Have you checked the construction progress lately? (9/3/2010)
Why a building project needs a contingency fund. (8/20/2010)
Groundbreaking pics. (4/5/2010)
For Atkinson Library Moves to Temporary Home. (3/13/2010)
Fort Atkinson Library Building Project Update. (2/17/2010)
Fort Atkinson library to move to temporary quarters. (12/3/2009)
Fort Library Receives Substantial Donation. (4/29/2009)
Fort Atkinson Moves Ahead on Library Project. (3/19/2009)
No comments:
Post a Comment