Elk Rapids District Library’s Capital Campaign

Together, creating a space for community connection.

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Get inspired with Campaign Co-Chairs, Bill and Paula…

Dear friends and supporters of the Elk Rapids community,

Envision stepping into a light-filled space where…

  • Children learn through play and develop literacy skills.

  • Teens find a safe place to meet friends and be themselves.

  • Folks of all ages experience programs that help them learn and grow with current and emerging technology.

  • Young adults meet others with common interest.

  • Parents connect and support each other.

  • Seniors pursue new passions.

  • Everyone comes together to enjoy music, art and a sense of community.

It has been said that libraries “raise everyone up,” offering all people access to the tools they need to stay informed, educated and connected.

Malala Yousafzai once wrote, “Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world.”

Following a comprehensive strategic planning process and feasibility study, The Elk Rapids District Library is embarking on an effort to raise $7 million to renovate the newly purchased building.

A community-wide capital campaign—”A Library For Everybody”—of $3.5 million will be matched by an eventual bond initiative to balance the funding plan. The effort will enable the library to expand space and the room it needs to thrive in the future—all while preserving the intimacy that we have come to love from our current library.

Combining a love of books with modern media literacy is now part of library culture, and when a library can offer both, it creates a solid foundation for a collaborative and connected community. As you will see, our vision for the new library extends well beyond books. For all to have equal access, literacy, and connection, we need to bridge the gaps for all populations.

This is where you can make a life-changing impact for yourself and your community.

We have exciting plans to transform the new library campus on Cairn Highway to offer both indoor and outdoor features that will no doubt provide us a center for connection that will truly anchor the village.

Through donations, grants, and the community itself, we hope to make this project a reality.

Please join us in thinking outside the books!

Bill Donberg and Paula Jorge

Elk Rapids District Library Capital Campaign Co-Chairs

  • The Elk Rapids Library has served the area since 1894!

    For the past 75 years, the library has been housed in the beloved Island House, once home to founder Edwin Noble.

    In 1971, it became a district library, serving Milton Township, the Village of Elk Rapids, the Township of Elk Rapids, and parts of Torch Lake Township.

    Today, the library serves around 5,500 people.

    While the Island House location is picturesque, it presents significant accessibility challenges for patrons and community.

  • In 2023, the community made one thing clear: the library must move forward to meet the needs of all.

    While the Elk Rapids District Library aims to provide essential services, it is restricted due to its location in the Island House.

    The 2023-2028 strategic plan outlines key requests, including spaces for teens, a community kitchen, areas for simultaneous programs, technology classes, and private rooms for meetings.

    The current location cannot accommodate these requests or fulfill these needs.

    With your support, we can change that.

    We propose relocating to a building in the heart of the library’s district that will allow us the space and accessibility to continue to carry out our mission and serve our community's needs.

  • OUR MISSION
    The mission of the Elk Rapids District Library is to provide quality resources and services that engage and impact the well-being of our community.

    OUR VISION
    We are a trusted, relevant, and valued partner in the communities we serve.

    OUR VALUES
    Welcoming
    Enthusiastic
    Adaptable
    Inclusive
    Accessible
    Resilient

  • The Elk Rapids District Library team loves books, and we also understand the importance of supporting broader community needs. Along with books and media resources, we offer:

    • Year-round programs for all ages

    • Collaborative programming with other libraries, community organizations, and authors

    • Partnerships with food coalitions to bridge gaps in access to food

    • Access to free Wi-Fi and support for low vision/blind patrons

    • Support to local schools through our delivery systems, literacy booster packs, and after-school programming

    • Regular weekly tech sessions

    • Meeting rooms for community use

    • Focus on early literacy support through 1000 Books Before Kindergarten and Story Time

    • A "Library of Things" where patrons can borrow tools, games, kits, and more

About the Library

Project Details

With the new building and relocation of the library, we will be able to make an impact in key areas of need in our community.

  • Problem: The current location limits access due to architectural barriers and geographical constraints.

    Solution: A centrally-located building will offer...

    • Increased accessibility: ADA compliance, ample parking, and public bus access.

    • Student accessibility: Safe sidewalks, crosswalks, and space for school buses.

    • Community accessibility: Welcoming spaces for seniors, people with disabilities, and those facing economic challenges.

  • Literacy is the foundation of education. The library plays a key role for children under five, and the local schools rely on us for information and literacy resources.

    Problem: The current location limits book availability and effective use of space by students and teachers.

    Solution: An intentionally-designed building will allow us to...

    • Accommodate larger storytime groups, offering a safe, spacious area for young children and caregivers.

    • Offer space for school visits and afterschool programming.

    • Provide collaborative spaces for school projects, research, and tutoring.

    • Enhance resources with accessible technology, benefiting students and adults alike.

    • Expanded resources: More space for books, digital media, and learning materials.

    • More programming: Expanded adult education, children's story hours, and book clubs for all ages.

  • Libraries are community hubs—patrons visit to borrow books and to foster connections.

    Problem: Our current location lacks the space to serve this role fully.

    Solution: A larger building will offer the community...

    • Meeting space: Multiple rooms for use by community groups, clubs, and civic engagement.

    • 24/7 access: Flexible hours for a community center to meet space demands.

    • Expanded programming: Host author visits, cultural events, and community forums.

    • An information hub: Centralize resources for job search help, school support, health info, and social services.

    • Opportunity for growth: Provide space and tech for remote work, courses, and regional events.

We took the first step…and saw immediate benefits!

In 2024, the library purchased a former manufacturer building on Cairn Highway in Elk Rapids, and the impact was immediate. Key benefits include:

  • Repurposing an empty building

  • Sidewalk and crosswalk access to Elk Rapids schools

  • Ample parking, handicap spaces, and room for buses and public transportation

  • 14,000 sq. ft., doubling our current space, with meetings already underway

  • Centrally located within the district we serve

What a library for everybody will look like…

The total initial investment, based upon a projected 2026 construction schedule, is estimated at $7 million.

The breakdown of those probable costs are as follows:

Make a life-changing impact

There are several ways that you can make a life-changing impact for our beautiful Elk Rapids District Library community.

By supporting the “A Library For Everybody” capital campaign, you’re directly moving the library’s mission forward and helping to expand critically important services for your community.

Through any giving option you choose, your gift will make a positive difference for you and your fellow community members today and for generations to come.

An immediate benefit of giving today is that your contributions are tax-deductible in the year of payment!

  • Your personal check, made payable to Elk Rapids District Library with “Building Fund” in the memo, will help us take great strides in reaching our goals. Credit card payments may be made via the link below . Please consider paying the credit card fees if you choose this option.

    Click here to make an online donation today

  • To maximize your gift, you may find it valuable to make a multi-year pledge payable over the next three to five years. Your contributions will also be tax-deductible in each year of payment.

    Click here to make a multi-year pledge today

  • Individuals, families, or organizations can be recognized with donations made in their honor. Gifts of $25,000 or more are also eligible for naming opportunities.

  • If you are 70½ or older, you can make a meaningful impact on the campaign while potentially reducing your tax burden by donating your Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) to the ERDL’s “A Library for Everybody” capital campaign. There are a variety of benefits to making these gifts, please seek professional financial and tax guidance to inform the process.

  • Gifts of appreciated securities are welcome and depending on your financial situation can provide you with additional tax advantages.

  • The library is willing to accept gifts of real property such as art, collections, vehicles, and other artifacts. Potential donations will be evaluated on an individual or case-by-case basis.

  • Designating the Elk Rapids District Library in your estate plan through a bequest, trust, or other methods is yet another way to provide long-term support.

    Gifts of this size may also require the consultation of legal and financial counsel.

Have questions regarding your giving options?
Click the button below to connect with our campaign team.

Commemorative and Naming Opportunities

While all gifts to the library campaign will be acknowledged and listed in a public area in the new building, gifts of $25,000 and above are eligible for a range of naming opportunities.

Whether your gift is through donation, cash, securities, or other means, these are opportunities for an individual, family, or organization to be acknowledged and celebrated for contributing so prominently to the library’s future.

Events

At this time, there are no upcoming scheduled events. Please check back soon for updates on our campaign-related programs and activities.

 FAQs

  • Yes. Donations to the library generally qualify for tax deductions.

    IRS Publication 526 states that:

    “Money or property given to federal, state, and local governments, if your contribution is solely for public purposes” is deductible. Donations to the library are deductible because the library is a department of a local department and donations would be for public purposes.

    If you have questions about tax applicability to donations please consult your attorney or tax professional. 

  • No, government entities, such as the Elk Rapids District Library, do not qualify for 501(c)(3) status.

    However, if your donation needs to be directed to a 501(c)(3), you can give to the Friends of the Elk Rapids District Library and request that the funds be applied to the Capital Campaign.

    Click here to visit the Friends of the Elk Rapids District Library website.

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