The Niobrara County Library Foundation, Inc. recently announced that they have reached the Wyoming Public Library Endowment Challenge program goal of $98,550.
A celebration of this event will be on Friday, August 7 at 6 p.m. on the library lawn and in the Lusk State Bank parking lot. The evening will include a light meal, speeches from area and state dignitaries and the highlight of the evening will be a musical performance at 7 p.m. by Kerry Grombacher. The performance may be followed by an Open Air movie. The evening is free and everyone is invited to celebrate.
During the 2008 Legislative Session a total of $9,100,000 was appropriated to the Wyoming Public Library Endowment Challenge Fund effective July 1, 2008. State match amounts are computed based on the amount raised by each county library’s foundation; counties with less assessed valuation receive more than counties with higher assessed valuations. For Niobrara County the match was $3 for every $1 raised and the foundation has received $295,652 thus far. The bill further established that once $2.3 million was raised cumulative throughout the state that each county library foundation would receive $100,000; however, to date this amount has not been raised. The Niobrara County Library Foundation will continue to raise and receive funds in the same 3:1 rate to $33,333 to match the available $100,000.
NCL Foundation Chairman, Leslie Hammond said “We cannot thank everyone enough for their support of this opportunity. Many of you donated or participated in fundraisers and it is you we celebrate. We invite you all to come out on the 7th and enjoy a fun, free evening celebrating that the county with the least population in our state accomplished this goal.”
Speakers for the evening include House District 2 Representative Ross Diercks, Niobrara County School District #1 Superintendant Rick Luchsinger and State Librarian, Lesley Boughton. The evening will be highlighted with entertainer, Kerry Grombacher. Grombacher plays guitar and mandolin and writes and performs contemporary folk and western songs. In the spirit of the troubadours of old, his music paints vivid portraits and tells fascinating stories that are set in the landscape where he’s worked and toured, from his home on New Orleans’ Bayou St. John to the desert Southwest, and up to Montana and the Northwest forests. The film slated to possibly be shown is “E. T. The Extra-Terrestrial” rated PG and 120 minutes.
Sure to be a very entertaining and celebratory evening, plan now to attend this free event that will help celebrate reaching the Wyoming Public Endowment Challenge goal. The evening is brought to you by the Niobrara County Library Foundation, Inc., Lusk State Bank, Bank of the West and Subway. Be sure to bring a lawn chair or blanket. For more information call the library at 334-3490.