We're so excited!!

This past week has flown by.  I have been concentrating on the new Asbury Municipal Building Project.  This endeavor has been in the works for over three years now.  The City of Asbury is the 10th fastest growing city in Iowa.  The population has doubled in the past five years!  So, it was time for the city to assess it's community presence.  So, the City Council undertook a space needs assessment and found that City Hall, the Police Department, and the Library were woefully small for a growing city.  Next they searched the community and selected the site which is a three-acre parcel the City owns next to the Village Co-op and Asbury Park.  Next they constituted a design committee of City officials, the Library, and community members to work with Marty Johnson of Straka & Johnson to develop plans for a building.  The City Council of Asbury approved the $3.6 million municipal building plan that will include City Hall, the Police Department, and the Library.  Last evening Mayor Jim Adams led the first public meeting at the Meadows to talk about the project with citizens.  The building will create a community hub for Asbury.  It will be a place of business but also community events like a farmer's market and concerts.

The Library portion of the project will cost $1.6 million.  It will include story time and play area space, an outdoor amphitheater, more computers, study rooms, and a shared program room that will seat over 100 people.  Now we are fundraising for the Library portion.  So far, the fundraising committee has over $500,000 in commitments to the project.  We are so excited!!  Asbury Library is needed in this community.  Circulation was up over 23% from last year and visits increased 19%!  We could do so much more if we just had the space;  space to offer programs and classes, space for computer stations, and space for the collection to grow.


In the next few months we will be ramping up our fundraising with community events you won't want to miss.

The other big new this week is that the Friends of Dubuque County Library is having it's first annual fall raffle.  Tickets go on sale next week at all of our library branches.  All the proceeds will go the Friends group so they can continue to support library services.  Friends helps out every year with programming, equipment, furniture, and much more.  Raffle tickets are $1.00 or 6 for $5.00.  You could win:  a handmade lap quilt; a handmade bean bag toss game, a handmade necklace with matching earrings, a large tote bag, or a goody basket.  All of the prizes have been donated by Friends members and Library Board members.  The raffle ends December 28th.  Check out our website for photos of the prizes or stop by Epworth Branch where everything is on display.

This weather is gorgeous, so get out and have a great weekend.  But remember to stop by next week and get your raffle tickets!!!    Dawn