Efforts are underway to raise money for Orillia’s new public library.
The fundraising drive was unveiled yesterday at the Orillia Opera House.
The goal of the “Building on the Next Chapter” campaign is to raise 750 thousand dollars over a three-year period.
Library Board Chair Gay Guthrie says it won’t be a “bricks-and-mortar” campaign where everything gets done in the first six months.
She says the fundraising drive will be longer because of the delays in getting into the building.
She also says it was a good time to launch the campaign because the public is beginning to wonder what is happening with the library building.
Guthrie says some of the money from the fundraising will go towards equipment and programming in the children’s section.
She says that will be one of their real strengths of the library.
Guthrie says the funds will also go towards preserving a significant art collection that features many historical works.
She says the artistic works are in need of conservation.
Guthrie says the money will also be used to purchase the latest in computer technology since it will be a key feature in the new library.
Guthrie says information on donating money can be found on the library website (www.neworillialibrary.ca) and at the library once it opens.
She says the fundraising committee will be putting together packages geared towards key people in the city who may contribute.
Guthrie says the new library located behind the Opera House is set to open in the early part of 2012.
She says the Gill Street temporary location will close at the end of January and will need about 3 weeks to move all the materials from there into the new library.
