For more information:
Emily Papadopoulos
304-343-4646; emily.p@kanawha.lib.wv.us

Year-end Report on Building Projects; Capital Campaign Reaches Milestone

Kanawha County Public Library officials provided a year-end progress report on the planned building projects at a press conference held today at the Main Library.

Three recent leadership contributions helped the Open a Modern Classic capital campaign reach a milestone of $15 million, according to Tom Heywood, president, The Library Foundation of Kanawha County, Inc. Today, the following gifts were announced: ECA Foundation, $250,000; Verizon West Virginia, $500,000; and the Maier Foundation, $500,000. The private fund raising goal is set at $25 million and should be completed by this time next year.

Heywood also announced that the library board of directors will purchase another piece of property on the downtown site before the end of the month. The upcoming acquisition will make this the library's third piece of property to be secured for the new Main Library. The first piece of property was purchased by the Clay Foundation as part of its contribution to the project, and the second was purchased earlier this year by KCPL.

The overall building project also calls for major improvements to six of the nine county branch libraries, including a new 5,500 square foot building in Marmet, which will replace the existing 429 square foot building. Heywood announced today that the Town of Marmet has donated a site of nearly one acre for the new library, located on MacCorkle Avenue next to the elementary school.

"We are extremely grateful for all of the support that we have received during the past year from many individuals and organizations who have given so generously. Our board members and volunteers have also worked very hard to help the library reach important milestones with this project, and they deserve tremendous credit for moving our project forward. I am very pleased with the progress we are making, and looking forward to an even more exciting year ahead," said Alan Engelbert, director, Kanawha County Public Library.

The total project is expected to cost approximately $50 million, which includes site acquisition, construction and other expenses for the Main Library, and for branch improvements throughout Kanawha County. In addition to the Main Library and the Marmet branch, the board also intends to pursue a new facility for the Elk Valley area, renovations to the Dunbar and St. Albans libraries, and expansions at the Cross Lanes and Sissonville branches.

As a part of the financing strategy, the Library Board intends to seek funding through a combination of city, county, state and federal funding, including a bond referendum, a very important phase of the project. Library officials anticipate that 50 percent of the money will come from public funding, and the balance will be raised from private sources. The project should be completed in five to seven years.

NiSource Charitable Foundation Makes Contribution to Open a Modern Classic Campaign

The Library Foundation's Open a Modern Classic campaign continues to gain momentum, with a recent contribution from NiSource Charitable Foundation for $40,000. Presented by Victor Gaglio, senior vice president of Operations and Engineering for Columbia Gas Transmission, the donation was made on behalf of Columbia Gas Transmission.

Library Capital Campaign Reaches Milestone

June 7, 2007

The Library Foundation's Open a Modern Classic capital campaign has topped the halfway point for private fund raising. Three leadership contributions totaling more than $3 million were announced today, bringing the amount raised to nearly $13 million, according to Tom Heywood, president of The Library Foundation of Kanawha County.

Three families with a strong philanthropic history in the Kanawha Valley have made substantial pledges over the past several months during the "quiet" phase of the campaign. The Elizabeth H. and H. B. Wehrle Foundation and members of the Wehrle family have pledged approximately $1.4 million; descendants of the John Lewis and Maude Hubbard Dickinson family recently pledged $1 million; and descendants of the Charles Cameron and Nellie Alderson Dickinson have made a gift of more than $1 million to the campaign.

The campaign is very active at this time, with scores of volunteers actively engaged in fundraising efforts on an organized basis, according to Heywood. Private fund raising will continue through December 2008 and is well on pace to reach the campaign goal.

Naming opportunities for the new Main Library are available at $125,000 and above.

"These gifts and the many other contributions and pledges we have received to date demonstrate a truly remarkable level of support for libraries across our community," said Heywood. "We wish to thank our benefactors and the entire community for their strong support and generous contributions to this campaign."

The total cost of the projects, which include a new flagship library in Charleston, two new branch libraries and major improvements to four other branches, is $50 million. Half of the funding will come from private contributions, and half from a variety of public funding sources. Ground breaking for the new Main Library is anticipated in 2009.

Cross Lanes Branch Library to Unveil Expansion Plans at Community Meeting

February 27, 2007

Cross Lanes Branch Library officials will unveil the plans for a proposed expansion at a community meeting on Thursday, March 22, at 7 p.m. Cross Lanes library patrons will be encouraged to provide feedback for the project.

The current library facility, which opened in 1999, serves the greater Cross Lanes area. The community continues to develop at a rapid pace, thereby increasing demand and usage at the library. Two thousand square feet will be added to the building in order to provide more shelving, expand the children's area and provide more space for public computer workstations.

For more information, contact the library at 776-5999.

Library Campaign Receives Second Major Gift in Recent Weeks

December 4, 2006

Jackson Kelly PLLC has pledged $125,000 to The Library Foundation's Open a Modern Classic capital campaign, which is solely designated toward the new building projects for the Kanawha County Public Library system. This contribution comes only two weeks after Appalachian Power announced a $500,000 contribution.

A.L. Emch, Jackson Kelly chief executive officer, said, "Jackson Kelly is proud to support the Kanawha County Public Library System and its Open a Modern Classic Campaign. The Firm appreciates the fundamental importance of nurturing literacy in our culture and society, and understands well the critical role that our public library system plays in that effort. All of us at Jackson Kelly are very pleased to make this contribution to an institution of such enduring value and importance." Mike Albert, who is a Jackson Kelly attorney, is currently the board president for Kanawha County Public Library.

The total library project is expected to cost approximately $50 million, which includes site acquisition, construction and other expenses for the Main Library, and $10 million for branch improvements throughout Kanawha County. Over the next several years, the board also intends to pursue new facilities for the Marmet and Elk Valley areas, renovations to the Dunbar and St. Albans libraries and expansions at the Cross Lanes and Sissonville branches.

"Our momentum for this important project just continues to grow, and we are quite pleased to be able to announce this gift from Jackson Kelly. This law firm is so supportive of all of the library's initiatives, and we are most grateful they have decided to embrace this project in such a remarkable and generous way," said Ginny George, campaign coordinator and volunteer for the project.

As a part of project's financing strategy, the Library Board intends to seek funding through a combination of city, county, state and federal funding, including a bond referendum, a very important phase of the project. Library officials anticipate that 50 percent of the money will come from public funding, and the balance will be raised from private sources. With this most recent donation, the total raised thus far is more than $9 million. The project should be completed in five to seven years.

Library Announces Major Contribution to Capital Campaign

November 16, 2006

At a news conference today, officials of The Library Foundation of Kanawha County, Inc. announced the first corporate gift to Kanawha County Public Library's building projects. The American Electric Power Foundation pledged $500,000 to the Open a Modern Classic capital campaign, which seeks to build a new Main Library and make improvements to six branches in the library system.

The American Electric Power Foundation is funded by American Electric Power (NYSE:AEP) and AEP's utility units, including Appalachian Power. AEP is the parent company of Appalachian Power.

Dana Waldo, Appalachian Power president and chief operating officer, made the announcement on behalf of the Foundation. "Today the AEP Foundation is making a major commitment to the future of West Virginia. There is no other project on the horizon that will better serve the citizens of our region than a new main library and its branch improvements," Waldo said.

"We are grateful to all of the people who are supporting the library's project in its early fund raising stage, and most appreciative that the American Electric Power Foundation views this project in the same way that our trustees and employees do," said Ginny George, campaign coordinator and volunteer for the project.

Waldo announced the gift on the same day Appalachian Power's employees celebrated Read to Me Day. As part of Read to Me Day, 171 employees read two books to approximately 13,000 students at 268 elementary schools across the state. They then donated the books to each school's library, for a total donation of 536 books. As part of today's announcement, Waldo made a ceremonial presentation of each of the two books to the children's collection at the Kanawha County Public Library.

The total library project is expected to cost approximately $50 million, which includes site acquisition, construction and other expenses for the Main Library, and $10 million for branch improvements throughout Kanawha County. Over the next several years, the board also intends to pursue new facilities for the Marmet and Elk Valley areas, renovations to the Dunbar and St. Albans libraries and expansions at the Cross Lanes and Sissonville branches.

As a part of the financing strategy, the Library Board intends to seek funding through a combination of city, county, state and federal funding, including a bond referendum, a very important phase of the project. Library officials anticipate that 50 percent of the money will come from public funding, and the balance will be raised from private sources. With this most recent donation, the total raised thus far is just over $9 million. The project should be completed in five to seven years.

Library plans unveiled; major gift announced

April 4, 2006

At a news conference today, officials of the Kanawha County Public Library system made two major announcements pertaining to their plans to build a new Main Library in downtown Charleston.

Tom Heywood, board president for The Library Foundation of Kanawha County, Inc., announced a lead gift for the project in the amount of $5 million, which has been pledged by The Clay Foundation. To date, nearly $8.5 million has been designated toward this project.

"We're obviously thrilled with the generosity of the Clay family and grateful for their continued commitment to the Kanawha Valley. We are especially thankful to them for realizing the significance of this particular project and for supporting it in our early phase of fund raising," said Heywood.

Mike Albert, KCPL board president, unveiled the official plans for the new Main Library, which will be situated in the block bordered by Lee Street, Leon Sullivan Way, Quarrier Street and Dickinson Street. The site, which was selected because of its easy interstate access and its accessibility to public transportation, will hold the approximately 140,000-square-foot building and parking for about 150 vehicles. The three-story building will be made of green-tinted glass and light gray limestone with green granite accents. Some of its special features include: improved building layout, at least 70 more computer stations, an interactive preschool exploration center, a children's programming area, a career center, a climate-controlled West Virginia Room, and versatile meeting spaces.

"I believe this project will enhance our educational landscape in the Kanawha Valley by providing equal access to information for everyone. The current facility already attracts 40,000 people on a monthly basis, and we have every expectation that this figure will double in a new building," said Albert.

The total project is expected to cost approximately $50 million, which includes site acquisition, construction, and other expenses for the Main Library and $10 million for improvements to six branch libraries throughout Kanawha County. Over the next several years, the board intends to pursue new facilities for the Marmet and Elk Valley areas and renovations and expansions to the branches in Dunbar, St. Albans, Cross Lanes and Sissonville.

The KCPL Board is finalizing its financing strategy. As a part of that scenario the Board intends to seek funding through a combination of city, county, state and federal funding, including a bond referendum, a very important phase of the project. Most likely, a special election will be held in spring 2007 to seek levy support. Library officials anticipate that 50 percent of the total will come from public funding, and the remaining will be raised from private sources. Completion of the project is expected to take five to seven years.

"We're so thrilled to be moving forward with this project. As people learn more about our plans, the excitement will continue to grow. In KCPL's 95-year history, the Main Library has been housed in six different locations, but never one that was designed to be a library. A well-designed, service-oriented facility such as what we envision is an essential requirement for operating a library system in an efficient manner," said Linda Wright, KCPL director.

For more information contact:
The Offices of Marketing and Development
The Library Foundation of Kanawha County, Inc.
Kanawha County Public Library
123 Capitol Street
Charleston, WV 25301
Phone: 304-343-4646 fax: 304-348-6530