Belleville Tops $1 Million for New Library

Celebrate with us on July 31st, at the Music in the Park concert from 6:30 p.m.– 8:00 p.m., at Library Park.
“We are so proud of how the community has come together to raise $1,012,000 for our new Library and Community Center,” said Library Board President Christine Belle. “Over 550 people, community organizations, and businesses have made gifts or multi-year pledges.”
The capital campaign began in the fall of 2016, when more than 100 women pledged $1,000 each to create a Teen Area in a new library for Belleville. Their vision resulted in the Belleville Village Board approving a new library in November 2016, contingent on at least $1 million being raised in donations.
“It amazes me how many different ways people have contributed to the library building fund,” said Capital Campaign Chair Renee Funseth. “Belleville is a generous community.”
All ages have participated in the capital campaign. One little girl set up a lemonade stand. Grade school kids participated in a Read-a-thon at school. High schoolers held a car wash and a Valentine’s flower sale.
Belleville High School alumni from nearby and from a dozen other states sent donations. Some included encouraging notes sharing fond memories from their Belleville childhood, like climbing the steep stairs to Old Library and story times with Velma Hoesly. Alumni whose classes have not yet reached their $5,000 goal to be listed on the plaque in the local history area are encouraged to still contribute to the building fund.
“The Ag community is an important part of Belleville’s economy and history,” said local farmer Yogi Brown. “We’ve received great support from local farms and agribusinesses, which, when paired with a substantial bequeathal from the Betty Quirk estate, will provide a spacious children’s area with room for playful learning, a large children’s collection of picture books, early readers, and chapter books, and computer stations for children.”
A custom mural by Wisconsin artist Larry Schultz offers the opportunity to honor the heritage and contributions of local family farms and agribusinesses.
Many made personal donations or multi-year pledges as part of the Belleville Library Lovers campaign, or to double their donation with the Schlecht Family Foundation’s $150,000 matching challenge grant.
Twenty-seven businesses have donated to the building fund. The new library will support local businesses by providing meeting and training space, along with other business center services.
Roger Hillebrand has challenged men to match the 100 Extraordinary Women’s efforts and pledge $1,000 over five years to be one of Belleville’s Exceptional Men. Funds raised this way will buy computers for the new library.
The Belleville Library building fund is held at Madison Community Foundation, which has also provided a $30,000 grant to the capital campaign. A gift in memory of Larry Lasure, a frequent library patron, was the first deposit to the fund.
The village plans to build a 13,700-square foot Library and Community Center at 20 S. Park Street, across from Library Park.
“Anchoring the east end of Main Street with the library achieves the village goals of keeping the library centrally located and being supportive of an active downtown business district,” said Village President Roger Hillebrand.
Recently approved schematic design phase floor plans include a community room with kitchen area, training room, large area for preschoolers through teens, quiet reading and local history room, makerspace, study rooms, and public computers. There will be expanded floor space for materials shelving, comfortable seating, and library classes and programs for all ages.
Work on the interior design portion of the architectural work will be complete this fall.
This is an unprecedented fundraising achievement for this small community. The fundraising is not over, and there are still opportunities to make an impact including donations from alumni towards the local history area and ag donations for the mural. Supporting the Community Club through the Community Picnic will assist in helping them fulfill their pledge to the library.
“We encourage people to buy tickets for our Fine Arts Raffle, which ends at the July 31st concert,” said Friends of the Library President Dawn Hayslett. “The Friends have pledged to raise $25,000 and are still fundraising toward that goal.”
Additional information and ways to support this important community project can be found at www.bellevillelibrary-wi.org/new-library or picked up at the current library at 130 S. Vine Street. Please contact Library Director Bronna Lehmann at (608) 424-1812 with any questions.
The Music in the Park concert series is presented every Tuesday evening in June and July, from 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., in Library Park by the Belleville Public Library with support from the Belleville Area Cultural Foundation and local businesses. The July 31st performance will be Dixieland music by Almost in Time DJB. Bring a picnic or get supper from the food stand or ice cream sundaes from the Friends of the Library.