John Bodger Regional Library Project
In 2006 we have decided to take on the project of building a new library which will be called the John Bodger Regional Library. We know this will be hard work but with determination and a positive outlook this new project could be a reality in several years. The library needs to now more than ever, think about it's future and it's stature in the community it serves.
We are also struggling to raise the money needed for operating costs to keep our librarian here and keep our doors open to the public. Living in a very monetary restricted area, (the 5th poorest country in the U.S.) makes that a very hard task to do. The library has some future goals we want to attain and hope that we can so that the future of the library will continue on in a new building with the funding needed to not only build this new library but keep our doors open.
The Library has a small endowment and would like to set a goal for 2006 to get that endowment to $100,000. Our long term goal for our endowment is for it to grow to $500,000. We hope that one day this endowment will grown enough so that the interest will one day be enough to give us the money need to operate the library.
Our building committee has been chosen. Elected to the committee were Nate Pennell, Janet O'Neal, Les Gardner, Ozias Bridgham and Pat Brightly. Through the many meetings it was determined to strive for a 4,800 sq. ft. building. A site and location has been chosen but has yet to obtained. The building committee is working on writing grants and raising money for this project as well as for the operating costs. It has been estimated that the cost for a new building could be around $400,000 (which is not concrete and written in stone).
The Whitneyville Public staff and trustees would like to thank the Whitneyville Community Club for there recent donation of $3,000 in memory of John Bodger, Mary Pennell and Frances Grover.
In November of this year the library received $50,000 from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation. This money was used to purchase the land, which will be the future site of the library. Thanks to the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation for making this possible.
December 14th the Down East Resource Conservation and Development Council named the Whitneyville Library Association's John Bodger Regional Library project as Washington County's Project of the Year for 2006. An awards luncheon was held on the 14th where Librarian Pat Brightly and Vice President Janet O'Neal accepted this award on behalf of the Whitneyville Library trustees.
2007
March 2007 the library received a grant from the Maine Community Grant Foundation in the amount of $4,500. This grant will help us get the new library site surveyed and a plot plan done and will help pay for any remaining land clean up that is needed to get done.
The year of 2007 ended with the new library lot being
surveyed and the old barn be removed. Fill was also added to the
lot as the debris was removed. The board of trustees and
the Friends of the Library would like to THANK all the donors
this year for there help and contribution to the John Bodger
Regional Library Project and to our on-going budget and future
endowment.
2017
The next phase in the
project will begin in late spring as we prepare for our ground
breaking. The library is currently working on
several grants and if we are recipients
of these grants it
will allow us to complete our capital campaign. September
2017 the library received grants
from the Next Generation and
Davis Family Foundations.
With these grants construction
of the new library can now
begin. September 23 the
library had a ground breaking
ceremony where the plans for the
library were on display.
Many library friends came out to
help us celebrate and founding
library member Dorothy Bodger
was present. October saw
the library taking shape with
the ground work beginning as the
footings were poured and the
frost wall as being
constructed. The plans are
to start the framing in of the
library building in December
with completion of the project
to be mid spring of 2018.
2018
In
the beginning
of April 2018
the project
began with the
framing in of
the new
library.
Local
contractor
Ronald Gandy
and crew,
along with
Davis Brothers
Construction
and Dale
Richardson and
Son are
building the
new 4,000 sq.
ft. building
that will be
the
Whitneyville
Library and
Whatnot
Association.
Allan Huntley
and helper is
doing all the
heating and
plumbing.
The radiant
flooring was
installed and
the concrete
was poured in
May.
Framing out of
the inside has
began and in
the first week
of June the
windows are
going
in. The
doors will be
installed soon
and electrical
work will
begin by
Craig Nutter
of Northeast
Electrical.
It is all
taking
shape.
June 2018
the board of
trustees were
give
a tour of the
library and
updated on
the work
that still had
to be
done. The
grand opening
of the library
was scheduled
for around the
4th of
July but a few
set backs
waiting
for construction
materials the
date of the
grand opening
was pushed
back.
September the
board of trustees
meet with the
many crafters
that were
going to
display there
things in the
Whatnot
Shop and gave
them the grand
tour of the
library and
Whatnot Shop.
The building
was getting
closer to
completion and
our grand
opening date
had been set
to October
20th.
The
begining
of October the
move began as
the library
finally moved
from the 1868
two room
school to the
new 4,000 sq.
ft.
building.
After two
weeks the library
started taking
shape the
grand opening
date was
coming
fast. On
October 20th
our dream was
finally
realized and our
hard work had
come to an end
as we opened
the doors to
the new
Whitneyville
Public Library
and Whatnot
Gift
Shop.
Over 150
people came
out to help us
celebrate.
Since then
our readership
has grown and
the Whatnot
Gift Shop has
been doing
great.
We have seen
more people
visit the
library and
have had alot
of new people
become
library
members.
Theodore
Geisel was so
right..."Its
not about what
it is, it
is about what
it
can become."
Thank you to
everyone
that helped
make our
dream a reality we
truly feel so
blessed.
Since 1988 the Whitneyville Public has been a non-profit organization with a 501 (c)(3) status so all donations are tax-deductible.
If you would like to help support our projects send a check to: Treasurer Whitneyville Library Association 6 Cross Street Whitneyville, Maine 04654 or to the Maine Community Founation 245 Main Street Ellsworth, Maine 04605 ATTENTION: Jim Geary. Visit there website at http://www.mainecf.org
All donations gratefully
received.