South Benton News Articles

In the February 2007 edition of the South Benton News my article "Happenings at the Monroe Community Library" appears opposite of another article entitiled, "South Benton Communities Historical Association Newsletter 2007" by Mrs. Barbara Wright, Museum Coordinator. In Mrs. Wright's article she wonders about the fate of the Monroe Train Depot and tells some wonderful history of this interesting historical building. In my quest for fulfilling our library's mission of "Bringing People and Information Together" I see my lack here! Since Benton County is working with the South Benton Library Project toward moving the depot to the new library's location, my thoughts went to wondering about how many people in the area I am not reaching with this information? Of course any news about progress we are making toward a new library is important to our patrons and myself...but what about those very few people who don't visit the library on a regular basis? How can I reach them? Well, for starters, I have a few ideas. Number one is to visit the museum the next time it is open and give them our latest SBLP newsletter with a SBLP Blog address bookmarker on it. Mmm...next I will go and pay another visit to the Senior Meals Program and (microphone in hand) bring them up to date on what's happening. Does anyone have other good ideas out there? Please don't be afraid to post them!

Update on the Monroe Depot

Just heard this from Chris Bentley of Benton County Planning:

"The Board of Commissioners agreed today to loan funds for the moving of the historic Monroe Depot building. This loan will be to the South Benton Library Project, who will incorporate the re-use of this building as a part of the library complex. We have already received donations towards this fund from a private individual and Wilbur Ellis Company.

We will keep you all posted, and let you know the moving date!"

Chalk up another reason for a new library in Monroe

Today we had 18 little pre-schoolers come to storytime! Last week it was 17. When I first started doing Pre-School Storytime 2 years ago here at the Monroe Community Library, I only had about 3 kids come each week. Sometimes, if it was flu season, no one would come. But it was a beginning! I have certainly learned a lot since those first few storytimes. Things like...letting go and being silly and singing for all the library to hear. That was a hard one! Now storytime has become my favorite 30 minutes of the week. I know there are better storytellers out there...but my love for what I am doing shines through. I am very passionate about reading to babies and little ones. Have you ever sat down and read a book to a baby? They LOVE it! They want to touch and feel the pages. They look into your eyes and hang on every syllable you speak. They smile and giggle and drool. It's wonderful. What a gift you give to them...your human voice; your undivided attention! Believe me, I get back just as much as I give in storytimes. And how does this relate to a new Monroe library? Well...just think about all those stories I've read to these little ones. They are going to grow up feeling wonderful about books! And where are they going to go for those books? Monroe's new library of course!

Introducing: The South Benton Library Project!

The community’s effort being made toward a new library in Monroe and the south Benton County area is almost in its second year of planning. We have had several meetings and progress is being made toward that end. At our last meeting on January 23 we agreed upon a name for our effort. Thus the South Benton Library Project or SBLP was born! At that meeting, several key issues were discussed besides what to call our group. South Benton Community Enhancement (SBCE) has agreed to sponsor the library project, which gives us the benefit of a non-profit status and opens up many grant possibilities. Meanwhile, the Monroe City council adopted an official resolution to support our efforts and that opens up other grant possibilities. We have a bookkeeper and a back up bookkeeper. As soon a bank account is opened, the Friends of the Corvallis-Benton County Library will deposit $500 which will be used for various start up costs, including a copy of QuickBooks for accounting. Teresa Landers, Deputy Library Director for the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library has discussed progress and plans on a variety of issues including how the County and SBCE are working together to get the railroad depot behind Wilbur Ellis moved sometime very soon to the corner of Ash and Hwy 99 which is the site that was agreed upon for the new library at a meeting in November 2006. We are currently looking for a person who will be our official liaison between South Benton Library Project and South Benton Community Enhancement. We also need to identify someone willing to be the Chair or Public Face for SBLP. We have had some wonderful articles written in both the Corvallis Gazette Times and the Tri-County News about our efforts. If you would like to join in this wonderful endeavor for a new library in Monroe please contact Lori Pelkey at the Monroe Community Library at 847-5174.

Join us at a community meeting Tuesday January 23rd at the Monroe Library to continue planning for a new library.

We had a great meeting with the Monroe City Council last night. They are very supportive fo the project and will soon pass a formal resolution in support of it. Here is the report they were given which serves as a good summary of the progress thus far:

• The Friends of the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library and the Library Foundation paid for a site and program study. The results of this indicate the need for a 5700 square foot facility occupying approximately .4 acres.
• Two sites were identified. The first is currently railroad property for which Benton County is currently negotiating purchase. It is at the north end of town across from the high school. The second site is adjacent to the health clinic, middle and elementary schools.
• At a recent town hall meeting at which the architect presented information about both sites, there was a very strong preference for the north site as it would create a wonderful entrance to the community. We are eagerly anticipating what happens with the County.
• It is our understanding that both these sites are available at very little cost.
• The overall estimate for construction is approximately one million dollars.
• Both sites provide ample space should additional community facilities decide to relocate including City Hall, Food Bank, Skate Park, and Community Center (beyond the meeting rooms provided in the new library).

An excited group of citizens agreed to meet again to determine the next steps. This meeting took place on November 14, 2006. The discussion at this meeting focused on options for organizing and what the next steps are.

We heard reports from the citizens involved in both the Alsea and Philomath building projects as they represented different models for how to proceed.

• The possibility of getting CDBG funding was discussed and will probably require an income survey be done of the school district service area which is basically the service area of the Monroe Library. An estimate is expected from COG within the next few weeks. CDBG funding would require the City of Monroe to be the formal applicant and recipient. CDBG could provide as much as $500,000.
• It was reported than many private foundations will not fund governmental agencies so the need to form or be part of an existing 501C3 organization was expressed. Since CDBG money is a matching grant, it is obvious that funding from private foundations will be necessary. The possibility of sponsorship by SBCE is going to be further explored with a reasonable expectation this will be acceptable to SBCE as long as the library project can provide its own bookkeeper. This way SBCE can apply for grants and when the building is built, SBCE will donate it to the City of Monroe for continuing maintenance support with the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library continuing to operate the library itself.
• Three major action steps emerged from the meeting:
• Dena Elliot and Dorothy Burt will talk to the SBCE board about accepting a new library as an official SBCE project including setting up a separate bank account for this project.
• Everyone will ask contacts about possible bookkeepers for the project; preferably using QuickBooks or a similar program.
• Teresa Landers will work with Lynne Miller on writing a grant to secure funding for the architectural design phase.

If you want to be part of this exciting project, we need lots of volunteers. Right now we really need to find someone who is willing to be the bookkeeper for the project. We will supply the copy of QuickBooks. In time, we hope to be able to pay a small stipend for doing this.

The next committee meeting is Tuesday January 23 at 7 pm in the City Council Chambers. If you want to help but can't make the meeting, contact Lori Pelkey at the library.

Great community meeting

We had a meeting last night with a great group of about 12 citizens interested in working on raising the funds to get a new library. The next step is to get the formal support of the Monroe City Council which we hope will happen next Tuesday night at 6 pm. A more lengthy report will be posted after that meeting.

Community Meeting

A reminder that we are having a community meeting on Tuesday November 14, 2006 at the Monroe Library to continue working on getting a new library for Monroe. If you want to help with the project but can't make the meeting, stop by the Library at 664 Commercial Street in Monroe and let Lori know you are interested. Hope to see you there.

Town Hall October 24

We had a great meeting last night with close to thirty folks attending. The architect for the site study, Lori Stephens, presented the two possible sites for a new library. One is across from the High School (the North Site) next to the fertilizer plant. The other is near the grade/middle schools and health clinic (the South site). The North Site is less expensive to develop and the reasons were presented. The full report from the architect is available at http://www.broadleafarchitecture.com/monroelibrary.htm.

The next step is to talk to the Monroe City Council. Another community meeting is scheduled for November 14 at 7 pm- in the library or close by. This meeting is for folks who would like to get involved in going the next step which will probably be to begin fundraising. At that meeting we will hear from folks from other communities who have successfully built a new library with minimal, if any, support from a local governmental entity. Join us if you can or let Lori Pelkey at the Monroe Library (847-5174) know if you can't make this meeting but want to be involved in the future.