Jesse Campbell, Staff Reporter

A Monday afternoon announcement at Blue Ridge Electric’s Ashe Office concerning the Library Expansion Project revealed that the library’s fundraising committee and board of trustees has surpassed their initial goal of $500,000.

A donation from the Cannon Foundation, Inc. in the amount of $50,000 provided the necessary sum to help the library exceed the original $500,000 goal and propel the current total to $551,367.

Ashe County’s Director of Economic Development Pat Mitchell and intern grant writer Holly Minton coordinated the grant application process and fine tuning in allocating the generous contribution, Mitchell explained.

County Commissioner Larry Rhodes and Library Board Trustee Sally Zwadyk acknowledged the community’s involvement in helping the library to achieve the lofty goal.

“We come here today to celebrate and honor our dedicated group of volunteers who have made this campaign so successful,” Zwadyk said. “We celebrate the people and businesses of Ashe County who understand the value and importance of the library to the health and happiness of our community and contributed funds to the campaign.”

Zwadyk stated the extra bit of help from the foundation could not have come at a better time considering the current economy and the rising costs of building materials. Zwadyk went on to explain her initial astonishment once she reviewed the final numbers.

“I was just absolutely elated,” Zwadyk said. “This just proves how much the community appreciates the library we have and the library that we will have to come.”

County Librarian Jim McQueen shared Zwadyk’s enthusiasm and stated that the exceeded goal will help the library to reach all of its original ambitions.

“I’m thrilled,” McQueen said. “It’s really an incredible achievement and it means we will be able to do everything we wanted to do in terms of furnishings and equipment.

“It really is a dream come true.”

Due to a recent warm weather, masonry crews have been able to remain on schedule, McQueen said. Crews are also in the process of laying tile in the bathroom and coating some walls with paint. McQueen said that if everything remains on schedule, the library should reopen in early June.

During the recognition and presentation ceremony, Zwadyk explained how the initial expansion project goal was predetermined based on architectural renderings and recommendations. She also stated that the fundraising goal appeared to be a ‘daunting challenge’ to meet in the beginning but that the library is ‘an easy thing tosell.’

A press release from the board stated that $252,700 of the raised funds came from corporate contributions while $67,000 of the fundraising total came from separate foundations.

Individuals and local organizations accounted for $194,263.56 of the net total while various community fundraisers had accumulated $37,403.44 to apply toward the total project goal. Campaigning for the fundraisers began in January of 2008.

Board and committee members expressed their gratitude for the generous contributions that they had received from the community and stated that the fundraiser campaign will continue to accept any additional funds.

Any donor who contributes an excess of $500 will receive their name on a commemorative Donor Wall. Deadline for the final contribution is March 28.

A ‘Legacy Bricks’ campaign was conducted in the earlier stages of the fundraiser which allowed those who contributed $100 to engrave a personal message or inscription onto one of the bricks to be used in the construction of the renovated library.

Executive Director of the Ashe County Chamber Cabot Hamilton and Jan Caddell from 580 WKSK were recognized for their efforts in the coordination of the November holiday concert featuring Cabot’s brother, country music singer George Hamilton IV. Proceeds from the concert have greatly benefited the fund raising project, Zwadyk said. Children’s Librarian Peggy Bailey was also recognized for work in directing the Teen Read-a-thon and the Reading Bug Hall of Fame. Zwadyk also praised the dedication and diligence exhibited by members of the fundraising committee in ensuring that the library met their ultimate goal. Hobie Davis, MaryAnne Moore, Bradley McNeill, and David Miller were instrumental in enabling the expansion project to become a reality, Zwadyk said.

County commissioners and the director of the chamber of commerce provided closing remarks on the momentous occasion. Hamilton stated that the revamped Ashe library will serve as a shining example to other facilities in the state to aspire to.