New Challenge Grant for Library Capital Campaign

The Vineyard Haven Public Library Building Fund, Inc. (VHPLBFI) is pleased to announce a $150,000 challenge grant for the library capital campaign. The campaign will fund construction of an addition to the library building to house an accessible multi-purpose community meeting room.

To date, the VHPLBFI has raised more than $1.4 million towards the $2 million capital campaign goal. Now a generous island family has offered a matching grant to help reach the fundraising goal by the end of the year. For every $3,000 donated to the campaign now, $1,000 in matching funds will be donated, up to $150,000 in matching funds for $450,000 in new gifts.

To further add to the value of this project, Tisbury voters at recent Town Meetings approved $1 million dollars in funding for repairs and renovations for the existing library building, which can be undertaken at the same time as construction of the addition in order to achieve cost savings and limit interruptions to library services. The Library's Building Committee is now working with the Town to hire an owner's project manager to oversee the combined renovation and addition project. With funding in place, the library will be able to begin construction in 2024.

The renovation and addition will include environmental upgrades for sustainability, much needed storage, and flexible meeting facilities that will position the library to deliver optimal services for years to come. The project will also include a renovated and expanded reading room, and a new interpretation of the Margaret Webster Shakespeare Garden which was lost with the library's last expansion in 2000.

The planned facility will be used for classes, lectures, films, entertainers, literary and other cultural programs for all ages, that will be open to the public and free of charge. In the past decade the library has experienced more than 300% growth in attendance at adult programs, and regularly hosts several thousand program attendees of all ages, with more than 40 events taking place each month.

Donations can be made online on the library’s website at www.vhlibrarybuildingfund.org or checks sent to VHPLBFI, PO Box 4961, Vineyard Haven MA 02568. Pledge forms and more detailed information about the capital campaign and building project are available at www.vhlibrarybuildingfund.org.