Public library building and renovation projects are often once-in-a-generation events. Staff and leaders may never have done a similar project and may never do one again, making it imperative for libraries to learn from one another.
Our library opened the doors to its new building on April 1, 2024, after raising more than $3.3 million to help fund construction. After an overview of this project and process, I’ll discuss ways to help manage input, communication, and expectations during the building process, and share practical lessons learned about fundraising, moving, and building design.
Presenter: Cari Cusick, Executive Director, Newton (KS) Public Library.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- Jan. 21 – 2026 One Book One Nebraska: ‘The Antidote: A Novel’
- Jan. 28 – Pretty Sweet Tech: How to Build a Virtual Makerspace
- Feb. 4 – Homesteading at Your Library
- Feb. 11 – Empowering Families Through Literacy: Tools and Strategies from Nebraska’s Statewide Initiative
- Feb. 18 – Communicating Your Library’s Value and Getting your Board “On Board” to Help!
To register for an NCompass Live show, or to listen to recordings of past shows, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website.
The show is presented online using the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoTo Webinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
