7/14/2009 6:00:00 AM Library fund-raising waiting for construction
Library Board members Phil Sveum and Marykay Zimbrick update the Common Council.
Ryan Dostalek ConnectFitchburg.com
The campaign to raise $4 million in donations for the new Fitchburg library is still on hold.
Two members of the Library Board - Treasurer Phil Sveum and Vice President Marykay Zimbrick - told the Common Council on June 24 that donors will be more likely to contribute when additional progress has been made toward construction.
Despite the sagging economy, "donors are still out there," said Sveum, although some may want to extend installments from three to five years.
"It's a chicken-and-egg situation," said Zimbrick, noting that some people want to see more donations before beginning construction while donors want to see visible signs of the city's commitment to the library.
The council's delay in approval following the referendum last November created uncertainty in the community, Sveum said. He said many residents don't follow the issue that closely and still don't realize the library will definitely be built.
Sveum said a professional fund-raiser has agreed to contribute time to the capital campaign.
Bill Linton, president and founder of Promega, is still committed to giving $1 million to the campaign, Zimbrick said. If the campaign fails to raise the additional $3 million, she said there should be ways of reducing the cost of the library accordingly.
The availability of architectural plans will also encourage donors, Zimbrick said.
"It would help to see something under construction," Sveum said. Until that happens, Ald. Steve Arnold suggested changing the sign at the site to reflect that the library is no longer "proposed" but will actually be built.
