The Donnelly Public Library is bursting at its seams and in “desperate need” of expansion, according to Libray Director Sherry Schelin.
The existing library is 1,024 square feet. The proposed expansion would enlarge the facility to 2,600 square feet. The front door would also be removed, and a larger entryway would be built.
“The expansion is strictly out of necessity. There are no bells and whistles,” Schelin said.
The Donnelly Library can be described as the town’s Swiss Army Knife, as it is multifunctional and versatile. It’s not only a place where books are read but a space where classes and after-school programs are held, foster care and welfare visits are conducted, and doctors and counselors use rooms to work out of on occasion.
With a capacity of just 16 people, space is limited. And while Schelin said the fire department will determine the new capacity, she estimates the expansion will bring it to about 70.
“At our after-school program, we run almost 30 kids. And so we had it outside for two years. We needed to come up with a solution,” Schelin said. The students currently meet in a tipi outside the library.
She said some in town have suggested using the school – but said the school is also overcrowded. The lack of space is forcing programs outside.
“So even in negative 26 below zero, they’re outside…. we desperately need the expansion,” she said.
Expansion plans
Expansion plans also call for converting the front desk area into a seating space and repurposing the current children’s room into a space for telehealth, welfare visits, and nursing moms.
“We have a number of foster kids up here. Health and Welfare went away from Valley County; they don’t have a place to do visits. And so our telehealth space would double as like Health and Welfare space it,” she said. “…During COVID, we had a doctor who couldn’t get a good enough internet signal at his cabin. So he had to come in and do his rounds here at the library to have a better internet signal – because connectivity is so rough up here.”
An additional “loud space” would hold teen and children’s programming, a STEM room, and a commercial kitchen.
“The biggest need is this food insecurity that these kids have. And a lot of them, the food that they get in the after-school program is the only food they get in the evenings,” Schelin said. “And so we make snacks and we would like to make sure that we can get USDA approved and so part of that expansion is some of those components.”
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The library has two tipis out front – one would remain, and the other removed.
Price tag & plan
Schelin said the estimated cost will be about $2 million, but they are budgeting for $2.2 million. She said the hope is to raise the funds from private donors so they don’t have to tax the library patrons. So far, the library has raised around $250,000 to $300,000. The library is also applying for the Idaho Commission Library Grant, which could give them $500,000 more.
The project timeline is contingent on funding. If the library gets the grant, Schelin said they would break ground by this summer and would hopefully wrap up construction by summer 2025.
“We’re actively seeking grants. We do have a few people that have some trusts that we’re going to tap into,” she said. “Now that we’ve announced that we’re expanding, we do hope our community sees that there’s a necessity. And not just our immediate community in Donnlley, but we hope McCall also sees the need.”
Donations to the library can be made online.
“We hope that communities recognize that we’re doing what we do because we’re passionate,” Schelin said. “We’re doing what we do because we love our community, we love our kids…Our biggest need is library expansion. And we will focus on that in every moment we can outside of our regular jobs.”
