What is more important in a library than anything else -
than everything else - is the fact that it exists. 
~Archibald MacLeish, "The Premise of Meaning,"
American Scholar, 5 June 1972

We are very grateful to the sponsors of our effort to build a permanent home for our village library. The John Trigg Ester Library has existed for twelve years in a small rented room, but it has outgrown these small quarters, and our capital campaign will need to raise approximately $800,000 to complete the library building. We began our capital campaign in 2009; please join us! You can help by joining our Capital Campaign Committee or by donating funds.

There is not such a cradle of democracy upon the earth
as the Free Public Library, this republic of letters,
where neither rank, office, nor wealth
receives the slightest consideration. 
~Andrew Carnegie

Our fundraisers have helped us purchase land, conduct a soils survey and a property survey, and build a library gazebo. We have engaged the services of the architectural firm USKH and Passiv Haus builder THorsten Chlupp. Final construction documents will be ready by October at the library's Annual Membership Meeting. The new structure will be at 474 Village Road, in the heart of Ester. We were awarded $50,000 from the state through the 2011 capital budget for design and site preparation, and $80,000 for FY2012 for site prep and construction. We have also been awarded a matching grant from the Fairbanks North Star Borough for $35,000, and have qualified for Community Revenue Sharing funds. This means that between our fundraising and these state and borough grants, we've gained 20% of the funds needed! Your donations and participation will be essential to earning the rest of the needed funds.

The richest person in the world - in fact all the riches in the world -
couldn't provide you with anything like the endless,
incredible loot available at your local library.
~Malcolm Forbes

Philip Carboy and his family have been generous supporters of the library's fundraising efforts over the years, and have encouraged the community to do the same. Your donation can help us make our full collections available to the public by creating a building big enough to hold them and to accomodate future expansion. Sponsorship comes in several levels, based on amount of donation. Below is a list of sponsors at each level of donation.

Barrett Willoughby ($25 to $99)

Anonymous
Lottie Fleeks
John P. Lambert

Robert Service ($100 to $199)

Harmony Log Works
In the Heart of Ester
Stellar Communications, Inc.
Tanana Truck & Tractor
A.O. Trigg
Pauline Wilson
Winterhouse, Inc.

Susan Butcher ($200 to $499)

Sine Anahita
Gold Hill Liquor & Gas
Innovation Consulting
Lynn Kulp
McRoy & Blackburn Publishers
Roger Moore
Specialty Imports
Tandem Enterprises
Taylored Restorations Services
Water Wagon
Ellen Whitcher
WV Builders

Peter Freuchen ($500 to $999)

CB Bettisworth

Kay Kennedy ($1,000 to $2,499)

Jeremy & Nicole Eberhardt of Everything Auto & Detail
Merritt Helfferich

Jack London ($2,500 to $4,999)

Margaret Murie ($5,000 and up)

Golden North Rebekah Lodge

There are many ways to help us raise funds: You can also choose to dedicate a shelf to someone, we have t-shirts for sale, or you can donate a portion of sales from your business to us for a time.

If you'd like to get more involved in helping us raise money, we are also looking for grantwriters and fundraising event coordinators. Please contact the librarians for more information.

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