“The idea for the library renovation literally started with a light bulb going on…actually 34 of them,” exclaimed Cathy LeFevre, Director of the Clarella Hackett Johnson Public Library in Sand Creek. “While my husband Bob changed bulbs, he discovered that above the dropped acoustic tile was a ceiling of old growth Douglas fir. ‘Can you imagine what the library would look like with taller bookcases and that ceiling exposed?’ ” A retired cabinetmaker, Bob LeFevre made a sample bookcase and a schematic drawing of the library renovation and presented it to the Sand Creek community in 2009. Bookcases or children’s book bins could be “purchased” for the cost of materials and each had a place for an engraved plaque to honor the donor. A local matching grant sparked a flurry of grant writing, Friend’s book and bake sales, and two spaghetti suppers.
In November 2009, production on the new library furnishings began. Bob donated over 500 hours for the library renovation--building, sanding, varnishing and installing the new cabinetry and workstations, and sanding and varnishing the ceiling. Additional community volunteer labor was requested to move the library, remove the old carpet, paint the library (a gorgeous sage color) and move everything back in a timely manner. “It was an intense three weeks!” remarks Cathy, “throughout the renovation-- Bob’s vision, talent and hard work has been amazing and the support of the Library Board and community has been remarkable. Almost all the bookcases and bins have donation plaques on them, and the entire project was accomplished without taxpayer monies. Because of limited funding, we had to ‘think within the box’ to make the library the best it could be.” (In 2009 taxpayers voted to raise the tax levy and enable Sand Creek’s Library to join the MORE system this fall.) “We are proud that the community realizes the importance of supporting their library and as an 11-year-old patron so accurately exclaims: ‘the library looks WAY COOL now!’”
