Quincy receives grant for library

QUINCY — Construction on a new Quincy Library is likely to start by October after the state approved a $900,000 grant to the city.

The state Department of Commerce awarded the Community Development Block Grant to Quincy on the third attempt. The federally-funded, state-administered grant is designed to help low- to moderate-income areas with public or community facilities, economic development, housing rehabilitation service and planning projects.

The city has about $1 million saved for the estimated $2.2 million project, and plans to take out a loan for any additional money needed to complete the project.

The new 9,700-square-foot building, planned for the corner of C Street and Central Avenue, will replace the old library next to City Hall. The new library is going to allow more space for books, seating and computers, project architect Brad Brisbine told the Quincy City Council when he displayed plans for it last year.

Plans for the building include two reading rooms connected by a double-sided fireplace, a 50-person meeting room and additional parking, Brisbine said.

The outside of the building was designed in a historical form, with a combination of flat roofs and pitched roofs, he said.

“There was a fair amount of discussion within our group about the appropriate style for this building, and, of course, there was a fair number of people on the board that indicated a preference for an agricultural-based design or a historical design, rather than some brand-new modern building that doesn’t look like it fits in this community,” he said.

The city has enough money to construct the new facility, but the Quincy Valley Library Foundation is searching for money to pay for furniture, carpeting and shelving, Quincy Supervising Librarian Schiree Ybarra said. The foundation’s goal is to raise $300,000.

“We wanted to do what’s called modular carpet, so if you have to replace a section of carpet that’s worn out … you can remove just a certain square section of the carpet,” she said.

The library group hopes to add a feature to draw children, Ybarra said, using the example of a tree children can climb on and into at a Portland museum.

“We want to do something similar to it. Something fun and attractive so they can find a book and curl up and read a book while they’re there,” she said. “We’re wanting to do some sort of fun feature for the kids.”

The foundation raised $31,000 last year, but Ybarra expects donations to increase since people know the library is certain after about three years of planning.

“We’re fairly confident that people will help us accumulate the funds to pay for the extra things. We’ve been making a few presentations to a couple of the service groups,” she said. “It’s definitely going to be built. It’s no longer just a dream. It’s becoming an actuality.”

The group is hoping to collect the money by early spring, Ybarra said, adding they don’t have a specific deadline.

To donate, people can contact the Quincy Public Library at 509-787-2359, or mail donations to P.O. Box 1666 Quincy, WA 98848.