Campaign Looks to Break Ground for New Library

Story by Catherine Grosdidier »

Since 1974, the Eudora Public Library has been a large part of our growing community. The library, which is located at 14 E. Ninth Street, sits at 2,500 square feet. For the last 43 years, the library has been an active part of our community. Events put on by the library include the Summer Reading Program, which pulls in young readers from Eudora to set a goal for how many books they can read over the summer, and Feeding Eudora, a summer program that provides meals to kids.

The library, having been a part of Eudora for so long, is becoming too cramped to meet the proper needs for a growing community. Citizens throughout Eudora have pulled their resources together to form a capital campaign to raise money to build a new library. The goal of the campaign is to raise $1 million in private funds through five-year pledges and donations. They also want to provide the Eudora community with a larger, more modern library that meets the needs of all segments of the community, regardless of age or economic background.

Janet Campbell, who is the communications director for the capital campaign, has worked with other members of the campaign committee to create different ways to get the community involved. She sees building a new library as something that can help Eudora continue to grow.

“I see a library as one of the vital basics for a strong community,” Campbell said, “Just like a good school system, active church, and an up to date fire department; an active and attractive library attracts all age groups and is an informational source that we all need.”

Don Grosdidier, chair of the capital campaign, sees a public library as a very important factor in the quality of life here in Eudora.

“Eudora is somewhat of a ‘bedroom community,’ and it needs social connections like schools, churches, and recreation programs,” Grosdidier said, “A larger, more modern library can certainly be a strong social connector within the community while providing a wide range of services to meet individual needs.”

If you are interested in making donations, a pledge, or volunteering to help with the campaign, contact head librarian, Carol Wohlford, at the library or like The New Eudora Township Public Library Capital Campaign page on Facebook.