SUDDEN VALLEY - Supporters are raising $300,000 to turn a barn in Sudden Valley into a new library branch to serve growing demand in the south Lake Whatcom area.
Friends of the Sudden Valley Library is the nonprofit group behind the fundraising drive, saying the area has outgrown the limited services provided twice a week - for a little over five hours - by the bookmobile from the Whatcom County Library System.
When it opens as the South Whatcom Public Library at Sudden Valley, the roughly 6,500-square-foot space will replace the bookmobile.
More than $30,000 toward what's needed to renovate the inside of the barn has been raised, according to Bob Cooper, Friends president and a Sudden Valley resident.
"It was a lot cheaper to do that than starting from scratch," Cooper said, adding that a new building of about the same size would have cost as much as $1.4 million.
The project is a collaboration by the Friends, Whatcom County Library System and the Sudden Valley Community Association.
"It's a very exciting project," said Regan Robinson, public services manager for the library system.
The Friends will raise money for the renovation of what's called the Middle Barn, which is owned by the community association.
In September, the Friends are expected to sign a 15-year lease - at $1 a month - with the community association to use the barn as a library, according to Cooper.
Then the library system would operate and staff the branch, which would be open 15 to 18 hours a week, according to Lizz Roberts, community relations coordinator for the library system.
Next up for the Friends is the goal of reaching $50,000 to lay utility lines and pour concrete floors.
"We're taking it in small steps like that," Cooper said.
Sudden Valley is a private community run by Sudden Valley Community Association and is funded by membership dues.
TO HELP
- Learn more about the fundraising campaign launched by Friends of the Sudden Valley Library by going online to wcls.org, clicking on "Friends" on the top menu bar, and then "Sudden Valley Library" on the left. Or go to suddenvalleylibrary.org.
- Tax-deductible donations to the Friends, which wants to raise $300,000 for a library branch in Sudden Valley, can be made by making checks payable to Friends of the Sudden Valley Library with "Building Fund" on the memo line.
Mail the check to: Treasurer, Friends of the Sudden Valley Library, 1941 Lake Whatcom Blvd., B3, Box 146, Bellingham, WA 98229. Or donate at Whatcom Educational Credit Union branches.
- Details: info@suddenvalleylibrary.org.
- The Friends plan to hold a fundraiser Oct. 8 in Sudden Valley with a pig roast and jazz concert.
