Capital Campaign Success and the New Galesburg Public Library
Building a Library, Connecting a Community
In 2022, the Galesburg Public Library Foundation successfully completed a transformative capital campaign, raising $4.1 million through generous voluntary contributions. This crucial funding covered the portion of the new library expenses not funded by the State of Illinois Public Library Construction Act Grant Program.
The vision for a new library had been a longstanding goal of the Galesburg Public Library Foundation and its trustees. The journey began in 2007, when the idea was first presented to the Galesburg City Council, prior to the formation of the Foundation. Since then, the Galesburg Public Library, the Galesburg Public Library Foundation, and dedicated community members have worked tirelessly to bring this vision to fruition.
A significant milestone was achieved in 2021 with the award of a $15.3 million grant from the State of Illinois, covering 75% of the total cost of the new library. The grant application, initially submitted in 2013, involved extensive planning, including site selection, property acquisition, and architectural design. Funding from the Foundation played a critical role in covering these preliminary expenses and meeting grant requirements throughout the seven-year process.
The new Galesburg Public Library opened its doors in April 2024, offering a range of innovative facilities and services to the community. This includes a state-of-the-art Whisper Room sound booth, a cutting-edge Technology Lab, and a versatile Skills Lab. The library’s exterior features include a courtyard, outdoor reading area, and landscaping to enhance the community experience.
We are excited about the new chapter in the legacy of the Galesburg Public Library. This new facility represents not just a building, but a commitment to fostering learning, creativity, and community engagement for generations to come.
Galesburg Public Library Foundation Accomplishments
In addition to contributing funding toward the new library, support for the Galesburg Public Library Foundation has enhanced and expanded library services. Most recently, through the generosity of our donors, we were able to:
- Funding Immediate need Employment to help with the influx of patrons in our children's library, for the rest of 2024.
- Fund a Technology and Employment Specialist to help those who are searching for a job or looking to improve their technology skills.
- Bring in Performers for both the adult and children summer reading programs.
Secure Funding for a library archives position to work on several digitization projects to make archival materials accessible for more patrons. These include:
Scanning photographs to add to our Flickr page
Recording VHS to add to our Flickr page
Scanning yearbooks and other books to add to our website
Scanning microfilm to add to our website
Recording cassette tapes to be added to an online database as yet to be determined
The digitization of these materials and their addition to our online platforms will allow users inside and outside the library to access materials. It also improves searchability and is a means to preserve digital facsimiles of materials.
- Create a donor base and execute the landscaping funding for phase one of the library's general needs for landscaped areas.
