2021-22 Project: New DVD Shelving for Adult and Children Collections
The Fern Ridge Library Foundation raised funds to replace outdated DVD shelving.
The Foundation raised $11,500 to replace the outdated shelving for DVD collections we’ve used since the last video rental store in Veneta closed down and gave us their shelf units. There are over 7,000 DVDs and Blu-ray discs in the library’s adult, children, and youth collections. These shelves were not designed for libraries and take up space we could use more efficiently inside the library.
The Fern Ridge Library wants to keep its library patrons visiting and checking out materials for lifelong learning, literacy, and entertainment. Picking up a DVD or Blu-ray disc for entertainment or a video game for recreation is a frequent activity for our busy families and patrons.
Thank you donors and the Trust Management Services, Braemer Trust for support of this project.
2019-20 Project a Success: Mobile Library Tricycle
The Fern Ridge Library Foundation raised funds to support the library’s educational, community, and outreach programs.
The Mobile Library Tricycle—the “GoTrike” — is a new way for the library to broaden outreach to the community by taking library services OUT of the building. Thanks to private funding from the Equinox Foundation and the Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund, along with area businesses, organizations and households, the GoTrike is ready to go! It will enable library staff to bring books, story time, technology, and reference services into the community. The GoTrike will function like a miniature library: it will be loaded it up with books, DVDs, games, and items to circulate from the mobile library. Staff members can check out books, sign up new patrons with library cards, conduct reference searches, visit online books and materials available through the library network, all while being able to engage with the community. The mobile tricycle will be able to attend Pop-up events, visit at the Farmer’s Market, conduct Storytime at the pool, and participate in other festivities in the Fern Ridge area. Thank you donors!
2019-20 Project a Success: Konnie Room Upgrades
The Konnie Room is one of the most used, and loved, public meeting spaces in the community and the hub of the library’s educational and community programs. It is a multipurpose room currently equipped with moveable tables and chairs, a projector and screen along with a craft storage unit. Our 2019-20 goal was to provide new chairs and storage dollies, along with folding tables with both fixed and adjustable legs, and a secured AV console in order to use technology efficiently during presentations. The upgrades would greatly improve function in addition to comfort. The funds have been raised—thanks to a grant from Trust Management Services, and donations from local businesses, organizations, and individual households. These improvements have been delayed due to COVID-19 when the library was no longer able to host educational programs in the building. However, as soon as we can resume such programming, the Konnie Room upgrade will be worth the wait.
2018-19 Project a Success: Circulation Desk Renovation Completed
The Fern Ridge Library Foundation raised funds to revitalize the control center of our dynamic community hub.
Renovation has been completed for the Fern Ridge Library’s circulation desk. The new entry includes a book drop, special shelving for new acquisitions and location for books relating to educational programs and topics of special interest plus the check out and information assistance desk. The library now has a new, more efficient circulation desk, and a new look.
All of this is made possible thanks to the successful fundraising campaign led by the Foundation. Donations given in 2018-19 from area households, businesses, and foundations raised $20,000 for the renovation. Special thank you to grants from The Ford Family Foundation, Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund, and the Oregon Community Foundation Redtail Fund and donors like you. Thank you!
2017-18 Project a Success: Improved the Children’s Area
The Fern Ridge Library Foundation raised funds to bring the joy of learning to the library’s youngest patrons.
Libraries play a critical role in inspiring preschool and school-age children with a love of learning. Both learning-through-play and developing a love of reading is possible for children and families at their local library.
The Fern Ridge Library staff members are dedicated to making improvements to our rural library that address the 5 early literacy habits—Talking, Singing, Reading, Writing, and Playing. The library’s Youth Services Coordinator and volunteers sponsor 193 children program events with attendance of 3,494. (This data is from the 2015-16 statistical report.)
The goal is to purchase specialized furniture that will include integrated touch screen displays, interactive play stations, and display areas for new books. Teaching children both the digital and written word is important to prepare for future success
UPDATE: The Foundation is pleased to report that over $15,000 was raised to make improvement in the children’s reading room. Already on order, and coming soon, are interactive play areas, kid-size technology and other materials to boost children’s love of learning. Early childhood literacy is most successful with learning and play go together. Thank you donors! Special thanks to our grants from Trust Management Services, Weyerhauser Giving Fund, and the Redtail Fund at Oregon Community Foundation. We did it together to make the library even better.
2015-17 Projects a Success: 50th Anniversary Projects
The Fern Ridge Library Foundation raised funds to relieve the impact of Library budget cuts
and matched Grant Perkins’ Challenge Grant to bring better technological access to the Library.
This project was extended for two years as part of the 50th Anniversary to raise $20,000 to support library materials and to replace the outdoor signage readerboard. Local donors and businesses were key to the completion of this project. Trust Management Services provided a grant of $5,000 for library materials funding .
A generous local donor, Grant Perkins, made a challenge to the Foundation to match his gift of $5,000 for computer technology. The Foundation sought additional gifts from key donors and the Oregon Community Foundation Donor Advised Funds and matched his challenge grant. With the $10,000 raised the library purchased new computer equipment, and covered the costs of installation with new tables, electrical and Ethernet wiring. With matching funds from IBM and the challenge grant, the Library was also able to install an adaptive workstation for people with disabilities. Thank you!
2014-2015 Project a Success: Children’s Area Carpet
The Fern Ridge Library Foundation raised funds to replace the carpet in the children’s area of the Library.
The Fern Ridge Library Foundation, with community support, raised $10,000 to replace the worn carpet in the children’s reading room area. Chambers Family Foundation provided a grant of $2,500 to “put us over the top” and complete the campaign. Thank you!
2013-14 Projects a Success: New Book Return Drop Box & Materials
The Fern Ridge Library Foundation raised funds to improve the Library media collection and return system.
The Fern Ridge Library Foundation raised funds to replace and relocate the drive up, drop-box book and media return. In addition, the Foundation raised funds for the library to add new Blu-ray DVDs of popular titles, educational games, and video games for library patrons of all ages. Total funds raised were $10,000. Trust Management Services provided a grant of $5,000. Thank you!
2012-13 Project a Success: Wireless Technology Access
The Fern Ridge Library Foundation raised funds to boost wireless technology access in the Library.
The Meyer Memorial Trust Grassroots grant of $6,000 provided the core funding needed to purchase and install wireless technology for the benefit of patrons and to add capability to the broadband network coming to the Fern Ridge region.
The Foundation also supported purchase of other digital equipment used for library programming for patrons as well as provide better digital equipment for the community programs and library outreach. These included electronic tablets and readers for children, a plasma screen, a digital projector, wi-fi enabled Kindles, and a sound speaker system. The Foundation also received a $1,000 grant from Three Rivers Foundation for digital equipment. In total, the Foundation raised $10,000 with community support. Thank you!
2007-2011 Projects a Success: Renovate ’08
The Fern Ridge Library Foundation raised funds to improve building usability and increase sustainability and operating efficiency.
In 2007, the Library Board undertook a multi-year planning study with a citizen committee to arrive at the goals for “Phase 2 Renovation.” They instructed the Foundation Board to make plans to raise the funds needed to provide building improvements for the library’s needs in face of a fast growing community. The Renovate 08 campaign was created to address this need.
Renovate 08: Growing with Our Community raised funds to improve building usability for patrons, added book stacks, improved lighting, expanded the technology and reference section, supported youth and children’s reading areas, and increased sustainability and operating efficiency. This project made critical improvements to the original 1974 wing.
At the culmination of this campaign, $266,600 was raised and the Chatfield Room, names for early library supporter Ralph Chatfield, was re-opened, adding valuable floor space and increasing shelf space in the adult section by 15%. Funds raised increased the library’s energy efficiency by replacing windows and HVAC systems.
This campaign was focused on keeping the library as an active community center, an educational focus for youth and children’s programs, and a gateway to the Internet for our growing community. Thank you!
2005-2007 Project a Success: Board Capacity
The Fern Ridge Library Foundation raised funds and focused on increasing capacity to serve the Library.
After the successful construction of the Fern Ridge Library, the Foundation stepped back from active fundraising and undertook a period of board training, organizational development and capacity building with the support of grants from the Oregon Community Foundation and the Chambers Family Foundation. The Foundation developed financial and endowment policies, revised its bylaws, and improved its operations to continue to support the growth and improvement of the Fern Ridge Library. Thank you for the support!
1995-1999 Project a Success: New Library Facility Space
The Fern Ridge Library Foundation was established and raised funds to construct new facility space for the Library.
The Fern Ridge Library Foundation was established in 1995 as a charitable, tax-exempt organization to raise and collect private funds in support of the Fern Ridge Library.
Of utmost importance was the construction of a new library facility with space for children and youth reading areas, a multipurpose room, and expanded space and facilities for serving the community. The new addition expanded the original 1974 building.
The fundraising was sparked by a challenge grant from Sam and Roberta Konnie in 1996. They generously offered to match up to $300,000 for a new building if the funds could be raised locally. The Fern Ridge Library Foundation raised over $1.1 million for a capital project that resulted in the library’s current, 13,000 square foot building. More than $600,00 was raised locally.
In 1999, the new and improved Fern Ridge Library opened. The community room was named for the Konnie family and remains one of the largest meeting rooms available for public use in the Fern Ridge area. Thank you!