Breaking Ground

More than 200 community members, library patrons, business leaders and elected officials gathered to break ground for the new Berryville Public Library on Tuesday, April 1. The new library will be located at 207 S. Springfield St.

Elaine Floyd, president of the Friends of the Berryville Library, welcomed the gathered crowd and introduced Friends’ Past Presidents in attendance: Shirley Rash, Calvin Cleaver, Mary Knight and Ann Richardson. Floyd spoke about the value that a public library adds to a community, stating that a public library serves people of all ages and improves the area’s quality of life and the community by providing free access to information and resources not provided anywhere else.

Library director Julie Hall reported that while the fundraising campaign was kicked off exactly four years before, preliminary discussions, planning, and interviews began eight to nine years before. The cost of the project initially was projected at $2.5 million. Feasibility studies concluded mounting a successful capital campaign of this magnitude was possible but would be unprecedented in our community. With the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and continued escalations in construction costs, the total amount needed to complete this project has grown. To date, $3.65 million dollars has been raised, which with a guaranteed maximum price for construction from Nabholz is enough to build the building. The Friends will continue raising money for the furnishings, which are estimated at $300,000.

Hall gave special recognition to longtime Berryville librarians Carol Ann Engskov and Carla Youngblood for starting to dream of and work toward a new library m ore than 30 years ago.

Tyler Squires, president of the Berryville Library Board and chair of the fundraising committee, spoke next. He thanked all who have had a small or a large part in helping to raise the needed funds. He recognized U.S. Rep. Steve Womack’s office for helping to secure $ 1 million in Community Project Funding, along with Berryville Mayor Tim McKinney for donating the land everyone was gathered on and the estate of Burt and Alice George for providing the initial seed money that kicked off this campaign. The Burch family was also recognized for their hard work in engaging the community in this effort as the honorary campaign chairs.

Squires gave a special shout-out to the five local banks for their significant donations. As the first businesses to support this project, these donations gave the campaign a boost in the early stages.

Joe Scott, building committee chairman, gave a brief overview of the new 10,000-squarefoot facility which will offer dedicated spaces for children and teens, small and large meeting rooms and private study rooms. The new library is designed by architect Butch Berry with the help of interior designer Lisa Claybrook. Scott spoke of the process they have gone through to value-engineer the plans to ensure building a functional space at the lowest possible costs. He thanked local company Barrows Excavation for their help with the site work.

Rob Dodd, executive vice president of Nabholz Construction, commended the group on such a wonderful show of enthusiasm for such a worthy project, stating that it is rare to see this much support at a groundbreaking. He was humbled that Nabholz was selected as the construction manager for this project and said Nabholz is honored to turn the dream of a new library into reality.

Cookies made by local baker Neeley Butler were served, and those in attendance could look at the architectural drawing of the interior layout. Construction is anticipated to take 11 months to complete.

Tax-deductible donations made payable to the Friends of the Berryville Library, Inc., can be mailed or dropped off at the library, 104 Spring St.

For more information on giving opportunities or named spaces, contact Kristy Noble-Tesch at 870-654-6565.