Ready to Rebuild

’Brien Memorial Library was destroyed by the Holiday Farm Fire that affected the entire Blue River community. Soon after the loss of our library, efforts were started by a few determined individuals to find grant money and raise funds to rebuild. In just about nine months after the loss of our beloved Blue River library, this effort had gathered momentum, adding volunteers and Board members to help.

The first results of this effort was a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the opening of a temporary library at the Upper McKenzie Community Center. Progress was being made. The next step to bring our library back was to purchase property in Blue River for the location of the new library. It will be a larger building with more parking, and, if our planning works, an outdoor space incorporated for our patrons’ use.

Now discussions with architects about the best use of that space are about to begin. The Board members of the O’Brien Memorial Library would like your help. We have been working hard on this journey to build a new library.

Gathering feedback from the community is an important part in guiding this effort. By collecting information, we can answer the questions that will explain to the architect how to allocate the space within the building to be designed.

A survey has been created for your input. Please go to our website at obrienlibrary.org and look for the link to this survey, or go directly to the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OBrienMemorialLibrarySurvey to share your opinion by completing the 7 questions that will let us know: What Would You Like to See? Or stop by and visit us. We will have this form ready there for you to complete as well.

If you are interested, there are other ways you can help us, too. Look online at the Volunteer link at our website or ask when you visit. It will be wonderful to see you. Our hours are on the website and on the marquee in front of the UMCC. We have a lot of fund raising to do. It will take time, but this is going to be a beautiful new library. We know how much our community is ready to rebuild. Making this effort to help is good for all of us. #McKenzieStrong

O’Brien Memorial Library