RIVER FALLS – The River Falls Public Library will host a public event at 6 p.m. May 19 to celebrate its history and introduce the community to its “Renew & Inspire” Capital Campaign.

One of the highlights of the evening will be a presentation by local historian Jayne Hoffman of her recent book, “River Falls Public Library: The Legacy of its Founding Mothers.” The book, commissioned by the River Falls Library Foundation, chronicles the library’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming a cornerstone of the community.

Another of the evening’s events will be an inspirational movie “Free for All: The Public Library.”  This Independent Lens documentary produced by Serendipity Films delves into the heart of America’s libraries, showcasing their evolution from book repositories to dynamic community hubs that foster learning, creativity and connections.

The public is invited to join in this celebration and support these efforts.

The Renew & Inspire Capital Campaign – which kicked off its public campaign on May 6 – has already secured a $4 million state grant for library renovation, putting the effort more than halfway to its ultimate $7.5 million fundraising goal.

The campaign aims to raise the remaining $3.5 million to aid in the renovation of the current library and to set aside funding in strategic endowments that are critical to the programming, staffing, and administration of the library well into the future.

“We’ve always had a proud history of community support, and the people of River Falls know the incredible value of lifelong learning that the library brings to our community,” said Tom Westerhaus, co-chair of the Renew & Inspire capital campaign. “Our investment in the library today will inspire generations to come.”

The current, outdated library will be transformed during the renovation to include a host of new features, including:

• State-of-the-art technology and improved digital connectivity
• An interactive children’s area
• A dedicated teen area
• Modern workstations
• Meeting rooms of various sizes
• Outdoor spaces for programming
• A telehealth room, and much more

“Today’s vision is tomorrow’s inspiration here in River Falls,” said Tanya Misselt, the library’s director. “We are well on the way to providing a dynamic library that meets today’s needs and looks ahead to anticipate future needs. Together, I’m confident the community will make an investment for today and for the future.”

Steve Schroeder, the campaign’s other co-chair, said the effort will create a first-rate, 21^st century library with endowment funding for community programming, events and operations.

“We have achieved tremendous success in winning the state grant, but our campaign will provide the margin of excellence that will keep the library a vital community asset,” Schroeder said. “The endowments will provide a lasting legacy that will ensure a bright future for the library and the River Falls community.”

To make a gift to the campaign, visit riverfallspubliclibrary.org/foundation. For more details about the project, visit riverfallspubliclibrary.org/remodel