And Now for Something Completely Different

As many of you know, I am working with others to raise funds to renovate the building next door to the P.R. Community Center for a New and Improved library here on the Point.  The old library (in the Community Center) has been there for over 60 years.  And not much has changed with that physical structure over that time.

But much HAS changed in the way of what libraries do and what they need in the way of physical space to do it.  Alas, the 1,000 square feet of our charming, almost Dickensian library isn't enough to do those things.  The library is no longer just a place where you check books in and out.  It's doing much more educating of kids, it's providing broad-band access to people who don't otherwise have it, it's providing computers for those who don't have them, and it needs rooms and tables and chairs and open spaces for all that to happen.  And, at least for a starter, that's why we need to have a new library that will provide 2,500 square feet of space.

There's a donation button on this blog, as well as on the fund-raising blog at foprl.blogspot.com, for the library campaign.  The donations go to the Whatcom County Library Foundation, which is a 501(c)3 group, solely for the purpose of a new library in P.R.  That means you will receive a receipt that provides eligibility for a U.S. charitable donation deduction.  We do not have any way of providing comparable Canadian charitable donation deductions, unfortunately.  But we are continuing to look for a way.

In our first 6 months of serious fundraising efforts, we have raised over $60,000 dollars.  We have a long way to go but we are trying everything we can think of.  And here is a thought not only for the Canadians who would like to support this project but can't get a Canadian charitable tax deduction but also for Americans who aren't able to use a charitable tax deduction for their U.S. tax returns for technical reasons.

In December (specifically Dec. 1 and 2), the Fundraising arm of the Friends of the Point Roberts Library will have a table at the Christmas Craft Fair filled with delights donated by Point Roberts artists and crafters, everything handmade.  There will be quilts, clothing, jewelry, fiber art, accessories, photographs, Christmas ornaments, paintings, and on.

If you come, look, and buy an object that pleases you, all the proceeds go to the library building fund.  Thus, although you won't get a charitable tax exemption receipt, you will get an object you like, perhaps love, and have personally chosen: probably worth far more than the tax exemption would be, and your money will go to the library and it will be doubled because we have a $5,000 matching gift for the month of December.

We've asked you for your loose change, for your grocery receipts, and now for some of your Christmas shopping experience.  You'd think I'd be appalled always to be asking.  But, I'm not, because I'm asking you to help your community, a place you live or visit, for a library that makes us a better place.  We're lucky that we have to finance only a building space and that the County Library will pay for all the staff and people that turn a building into a functioning library.  It's our job to create the building because having a library benefits us as individuals, as families, and as a community.  There are lots of ways for you to participate in this and we hope you find one that works for you.

You can reach the Friends of the P.R. Library fundraising group at foprl1@gmail.com if you have questions.

If you want more information about the actual renovation plans, you can see the architect's feasibility study here.