A 501(c)3 Private Foundation supporting the Carthage Public Library District in Carthage, Illinois
EIN: 46-5183105 - Carthage District Library Foundation.
EIN: 46-5183105 - Carthage District Library Foundation.
Purpose: To raise funds, seek grants, and accept and manage major gifts and
endowments on behalf of the Carthage Public Library District.
To make a donation, checks may be made out to the Carthage District Library Foundation and mailed to
500 Wabash Avenue
Carthage, Illinois 62321
Or use the link below to donate using a credit card or your PayPal account:
500 Wabash Avenue
Carthage, Illinois 62321
Or use the link below to donate using a credit card or your PayPal account:
If your PayPal/credit card payment is to purchase Raffle Tickets, or is for our brick/paver campaign, please email carthagelibraryfoundation@gmail.com or contact the Library, 217-357-3232, so we can complete the paperwork.

Dare to Dream Capital Campaign Purpose and Goal:
Raise $1.2 million local cost share by June 30, 2021 to receive Public Library Construction Act Grant funds totaling $1,258,862.94.
Use the funds to construct a beautiful, 10,660 sq ft. one story library building, featuring a large program/meeting room, 2 study rooms, ample seating, and a drive-up book return and pick up window.
Below is a link to a brochure with FAQ and more details of our project.
Raise $1.2 million local cost share by June 30, 2021 to receive Public Library Construction Act Grant funds totaling $1,258,862.94.
Use the funds to construct a beautiful, 10,660 sq ft. one story library building, featuring a large program/meeting room, 2 study rooms, ample seating, and a drive-up book return and pick up window.
Below is a link to a brochure with FAQ and more details of our project.
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Donations of any amount are welcome!! Every little bit helps!
FILL OUR STOCKING!!
FILL OUR STOCKING!!

We hope to raise $200,000 toward our overall goal before the end of 2020.
Each stripe of the stocking represents $10,000.
We received at $10,000 bronze level donation today!
We now have 8 stripes filled in!
Fundraising Progress
as of 1-6-2021
$ 36,000 Donation of land
470 Giving Tuesday
44,560 Bricks, pavers, donations
3,080 Raffle ticket sales
$84,1 1 0 (prize $ was donated back to us).
Please remember the Library's Capital Campaign
when making year-end donations or pledges.
Honor a loved one with an engraved
brick or paver.
Each stripe of the stocking represents $10,000.
We received at $10,000 bronze level donation today!
We now have 8 stripes filled in!
Fundraising Progress
as of 1-6-2021
$ 36,000 Donation of land
470 Giving Tuesday
44,560 Bricks, pavers, donations
3,080 Raffle ticket sales
$84,1 1 0 (prize $ was donated back to us).
Please remember the Library's Capital Campaign
when making year-end donations or pledges.
Honor a loved one with an engraved
brick or paver.
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|
Levels of Giving Opportunities
Library Receives Donation of Land

Doug Groth (far left) and Bill Hollis (far right) announced on Oct. 24 that Prairieland Investment Group is donating property to the Carthage Public Library District for our new building. The site is on the northwest corner of Prairieland's campus; on First Street and Center Street in Carthage.
This major donation kicks off the Library's "Dare to Dream" Capital Campaign. Also in the photo are the 7 members of the Library's Board of Trustees and the Library Director.
This major donation kicks off the Library's "Dare to Dream" Capital Campaign. Also in the photo are the 7 members of the Library's Board of Trustees and the Library Director.

Thank you for your generosity and support for the Library’s #GivingTuesday campaign. We ended the day with 12 donors and $470! If we actually receive matching funds from Facebook we will be close to reaching our $1000 goal for the day.
Additional donations may be made with PayPal or a credit card using the "donate" button above.
You also helped us spread the word about our project to people outside of our area. Please continue to tell others about our building project, grant opportunity, and capital campaign. We would love it if you would share YOUR story about why the Library is important to YOU.
We appreciate your continued support as we work for our larger Capital Campaign goal of $1.2 million by June 30, 2021, which will release almost $1.26 million in grant funds and allow us to construct a new library building.
Additional donations may be made with PayPal or a credit card using the "donate" button above.
You also helped us spread the word about our project to people outside of our area. Please continue to tell others about our building project, grant opportunity, and capital campaign. We would love it if you would share YOUR story about why the Library is important to YOU.
We appreciate your continued support as we work for our larger Capital Campaign goal of $1.2 million by June 30, 2021, which will release almost $1.26 million in grant funds and allow us to construct a new library building.
This has been a very long journey, but each step brings us closer
to our dream of a New Library Building
to our dream of a New Library Building
Below are links to press releases announcing our application for the Public Library Construction Act Grant, and the announcement that our grant application has been approved, dependent upon our ability to raise the local cost share. Below the articles is a summary of the report that led us to dream of building a new library.

grant_app_approved_press_release.docx | |
File Size: | 16 kb |
File Type: | docx |

applying_for_grant_press_release.docx | |
File Size: | 17 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Library Board Considers Facility Options
In 2006, when the Library remodeled the first floor of the former Marine Bank building and moved into 500 Wabash Ave., the plan was to eventually renovate the second floor. The Board knew that we would be required to construct an additional stairway. The Library is currently facing problems with an unreliable elevator, which is difficult to repair since the parts are obsolete, and is too small to meet ADA requirements. Replacing the elevator would greatly add to the remodeling expenses.
In order to effectively evaluate our options, accurate cost estimates were needed. In 2017 the Board of Trustees began working with Dr. Frederick Schlipf, a well-known and respected Library Building Consultant and professor at the U of I Graduate School of Library and Information Science in Urbana-Champaign, and Mark Misselhorn, from Apace Design + Architects in Peoria.
In March of 2018 Dr. Schlipf and Mark Misselhorn submitted a report to the Board of Trustees that summarized their findings and gave their recommendation. Page 1 states:
"The library has four general options:
1. Remodel the second story of the building to enable it to be used for library purposes, adding necessary staircase and
elevator.
2. Expand the first floor by constructing an addition on the south.
3. Obtain and remodel another old structure and convert it to library purposes.
4. Build a new library building on a new site.
Our conclusion, outlined in detail below, is that the most economical and functional solution is to start over with a
new building designed as a library."
Click here to view their full report.