Group continues raising money for library
SLIPPERY ROCK — The Friends of the Slippery Rock Library group is continuing to raise money to build a new library.
In total, the group has raised nearly $200,000, but has spent a large amount on the project already. The group has $114,423 on hand right now.
Jan Forrest, president of the group, said she anticipates the library will need an additional $400,000 to complete the project. She is not sure how long this will take.
“I have no idea,” Forrest said.
Most of the money is coming from donations.
She said the group is encouraging people to think about the future library's address, 330 E. Water St., when they donate. As an example, people could donate $33, $330 or a similar amount.
When the building is built, she said there will be a plaque where donor's names and “levels” will be listed.
Forrest said there are different levels of donations. The “book club” donation is $330. The “reader's circle” donation is $3,300. The highest level is the “rare book collector,” which is $50,000 and up.
For a while, people could donate through the library's website, but Forrest said that was discontinued because very few people donated there and the library had to pay to maintain the donation site.
Forrest said the group also is seeking grants.
The group bought the land in August 2011 for $60,000.
Initially, the building was to be designed by architect Don Ansman of Butler. However, the group decided the building will be made out of metal, which does not require an architect. She said there are a few companies that make and design metal buildings, but none have been chosen for the project.
“We're not that far along yet,” Forrest said.
The initial plan was for a 1,200- to 1,500-square-foot building. Forrest said the group can buy a larger steel building for less money.
She is not sure how big the building will be, but she said it likely will be one story with a slab.
“We're open to all possibilities,” Forrest said.
In addition to fundraising activity, the library has expanded its hours on Thursdays to be noon to 7 p.m. It also has added a second story time, which is held on Thursdays at 1 p.m.
“We just have an awful lot going on at that library,” Forrest said.
The current library is a room in the Slippery Rock Parks and Recreation center and is 283 square feet. It gets between 300 and 500 visitors each month.
The library started in that location in 1981 as a paperback library and it became a full library in 2005.
Currently, donations may be made to the Slippery Rock Community Library, P.O. Box 25, Slippery Rock, PA 16057. Donations also may be dropped off at the library.
