MONROE - Gaining tax-exempt status is just one small step, but the New Glarus Public Library hopes it will encourage more donations not only to its operations, but also to its building fund.
The library is awaiting word on an offer it submitted to buy more than two acres of land on the village's west side for a new library.
"This is just the very first step in a process," said Denise Anton Wright, the library's director.
The two acres, located near the North American Swiss Center on Wis. 39, are in a good location, on a hill and available, said Wright.
The present 2,000-square-foot library has been in the village hall since the early 1980s, and now serves the local area of about 6,000 people.
"The board knew years and years ago," that it would need to move from its present location, Wright said.
Over the past 20 years, more than a dozen other locations, many of them in downtown New Glarus, have been considered for a new library.
"The New Glarus community and the board have really spent a lot of time and energy on this," Wright said. "But there were so many problems. Either the land wasn't available or it had flood-plain issues."
If land acquisition is just the first step, a major building fundraiser is likely to follow.
"For the past 20 years, the library board has set aside donations specified explicitly for a new library facility with the idea that it would be used for land acquisition and engineering studies," Wright said.
While the library has had a history of community support, Wright hopes the library's new tax-exempt status also will prompt more corporations to donate.
The library gained its new 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status when it joined the South Central Library System (SCLS).
Contributions to the library are now tax-deductible.
Wright said SCLS is a a good compliment to the Friends of the New Glarus Library, which also has tax-exempt status.
"We are so fortunate to have an active Friends of the Library group, and they are poised to do more," Wright said.
The SCLS provides its member libraries with delivery service, educational programs and access to many shared resources.
It also provides some consultation services to libraries building or renovating facilities.
The library is awaiting word on an offer it submitted to buy more than two acres of land on the village's west side for a new library.
"This is just the very first step in a process," said Denise Anton Wright, the library's director.
The two acres, located near the North American Swiss Center on Wis. 39, are in a good location, on a hill and available, said Wright.
The present 2,000-square-foot library has been in the village hall since the early 1980s, and now serves the local area of about 6,000 people.
"The board knew years and years ago," that it would need to move from its present location, Wright said.
Over the past 20 years, more than a dozen other locations, many of them in downtown New Glarus, have been considered for a new library.
"The New Glarus community and the board have really spent a lot of time and energy on this," Wright said. "But there were so many problems. Either the land wasn't available or it had flood-plain issues."
If land acquisition is just the first step, a major building fundraiser is likely to follow.
"For the past 20 years, the library board has set aside donations specified explicitly for a new library facility with the idea that it would be used for land acquisition and engineering studies," Wright said.
While the library has had a history of community support, Wright hopes the library's new tax-exempt status also will prompt more corporations to donate.
The library gained its new 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status when it joined the South Central Library System (SCLS).
Contributions to the library are now tax-deductible.
Wright said SCLS is a a good compliment to the Friends of the New Glarus Library, which also has tax-exempt status.
"We are so fortunate to have an active Friends of the Library group, and they are poised to do more," Wright said.
The SCLS provides its member libraries with delivery service, educational programs and access to many shared resources.
It also provides some consultation services to libraries building or renovating facilities.