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Beneficiary
The Talkeetna Public Library/Community Resource Center, a non-profit organization, is located about 2 miles from downtown, and serves three Upper Susitna Valley communities (Chase, Talkeetna and Susitna North), a combined population of about 1500 residents. As in many small communities, the library serves as much more than a site to obtain and read books. It also serves as a hub of the regional community, hosting community and public meetings, educational classes for children and adults, as a social center for residents and much more.
The library is located in a beautiful Alaskan setting, and, when weather permits, library staff could conduct many activities outdoors, connecting nature with the programming. However, there is no seating outside nor a shelter for summer's rainy days. For that reason, the library has a need for a small outdoor shelter/gazebo with seating so children's story time and summer reading program, classes and other activities could be conducted outside, whether sunny or rainy.
Project Description
The purpose of the project is to provide new opportunities for literacy programming and community-based education at the library, providing the ability to involve a greater number of children and teens, by providing an outdoor location to supplement current indoors facilities.
This project will be spearheaded by the eClub of District 5010 with the help of Susitna Rotary, especially working together on the hands on component. The club will also work with the Friends of the Talkeetna Library, a non-profit volunteer group, to construct the gazebo. The Library will assume ownership and maintenance responsibilities for the gazebo after completion.
Next step planning for the project will be combined with a hands-on clean-up project, together with library volunteers, when Rotarians attend the district conference in Talkeetna. Reading to children is also included on members' agenda. Rotarians will follow up by sourcing the materials for the gazebo and finalizing the details and, with local volunteers, subsequently construct the structure. Following the construction, Rotarians will be involved in other library programs, such as the children's reading groups and presenting educational classes.
A letter of need, cooperation and joint publicity has been received from the library director and includes the understanding that they will assume ownership and maintenance responsibilities for the gazebo after completion. A letter has also been received from the Friends of the Talkeetna Library. These letters will be uploaded into the documents section.
Use of Funds
To acquire a gazebo kit and ancillary supplies necessary for building the gazebo and making it ready for use.
If less funds are available from District 5010 DDF, the size of the gazebo will be reduced and/or additional community fundraising will take place.
Funds have also been requested, but not yet confirmed, from other clubs. These would be added to the budget for additions to the project, such as cushions for seating. Although these funds are anticipated, they are not included in this request as they are not yet committed.
Friends of Talkeetna Library may also add additional funds to expand the project as it is in the next planning phase.
Number of Rotarians
It is estimated that between 15 and 20 members will participate in the various activities associated with this project, including planning and constructing the gazebo and taking part in library programming for children.
Timeline
July 2022 to May 2023 (based on weather conditions; this timeline assumes a winter break may be necessary).
Addendum to Project Description (added after the project was signed)
Update
May 2023: The project implementation has been modified with a substitution of equipment. This is due to the inability to build a gazebo during a winter that was longer and harsher than usual, and the process challenges and length of time needed to obtain a building permit from the Mat-Su Borough. The concept and need of the project has not changed. Equipment substituted serve the same function and requirements.
Description
May 2023: Providing five (5) 8-seat wood picnic dining seat with bench sets with umbrellas and a portable tent to expand library's capabilities to provide children's literacy and educational programming in an outdoor setting.
The equipment project will be combined with hands-on clean-up of the property, together with library volunteers, when weather permits. Reading to children is also included on members' agenda. Rotarians will follow up by helping to assemble the picnic dining seat bench set with umbrellas and finalizing the details and with local volunteers. Following the assembly, Rotarians will be involved in other library programs, such as the children's reading groups and presenting educational classes.
Use of Funds
May 2023: To acquire 5 8 -person picnic dining seat bench set with umbrellas and ancillary supplies (10' x 10' canopy tent and weights) necessary for use in rainy weather and making it ready for use.
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