June 26 – Flathead County Library employees stepped inside the newly completed Bigfork branch for the first time last week and marveled at the transformation the space has undergone since construction began last fall.
“This location will show the valley what a 21st century library looks like, I hope it gets people excited,” said communications and outreach librarian Lune Axelsen.
There is still landscaping to be done, furniture to be installed, and of course, books to put on the shelves. But for those who have been working on a new Bigfork branch of the Flathead County Library for more than a decade, the completed construction means they have a brand new library very close to the community.
“This was the first capital campaign the foundation has done, it is the first library purpose-built by the county library system – meaning every library that currently exists was not built to be a library. But this one is, and the scale of this is obviously the largest thing any of us have ever done,” said Sara Busse, executive director of the ImagineIF Foundation.
The building did not start life as a library, but was completely renovated to become one after the ImagineIF Foundation purchased the Bethany Lutheran Ark Building in 2018 for $475,000. After issues surrounding the future ownership transfer agreement between library and county officials were resolved in 2022, the project was able to move forward. The foundation relaunched its capital campaign last year and broke ground on the project in October.
According to Busse, the foundation will transfer ownership of the new library to Flathead County upon financial completion.
After the exchange, Flathead County will own and operate the building like its other branches, with the Flathead County Library Board committing last year to spend $70,000 to purchase books, CDs, films and other materials.
New purchases are a necessity, as the current facility – housed in the Bigfork Art and Cultural Center building – offers only 1,400 square feet of space. The new building features 6,000 square feet of space, which the staff enjoys using for programming and an extensive collection.
There’s also more storage and office space for Bigfork branch staff, including a sink for cleaning up arts and crafts messes and more.
“It was so wonderful to come together with the foundation and just have this wish list and then make it a reality. So I’m just very, very grateful and appreciative,” said Teri Dugan, director of the Flathead County Library.
Busse said many Bigfork companies have come together to support the library, including Glacier Bank, Sliters Lumber and Building Supply, Martel Construction, Bigfork Harvest Foods, Nancy O Interiors, El Topo and Birch Provisions.
She said Glacier Bank, Sliters, Martel and Harvest Foods together contributed $110,000 to the project, challenging the community to help match their donations by raising an additional $90,000 by July 31, primarily through in-store donation options.
Stephanie Townsend is a branch manager at Glacier Bank in Bigfork, which donated $35,000 to the project. Busse said the foundation was able to use that donation to raise another $75,000 from other businesses in the community.
Townsend said she gets emotional when she thinks about how the library will benefit Bigfork’s youth.
“Glacier Bank is so proud to be a part of it, and when it’s something for kids in the community – who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?” Townsend said. “… [The foundation invites] I come here about every month and a half to check in. It’s just so great, I think the community is in for a great surprise.’
Andrea Goudge, chief financial officer of Sliters Lumber and Building Supply, said the company donated $25,000 to the project. She said it’s part of the company’s core values to support education in its communities.
“We believe in lifelong learning and in having beautiful spaces where people can learn and grow. Libraries are very important to the vibrancy of our cities, we have also contributed to the West Shore Community Library and are excited to be part creating our new Bigfork department,” says Goudge.
Busse said Martel Construction also played a major role in the project. In addition to their monetary donation, the company was also the construction contractor for the renovation.
Construction continued as normal this winter, with crews able to pour concrete in December due to mild winter weather. The original roof was retained, which helped with the renovation, but site manager Jeremy Peterson said the biggest challenge was keeping the walls intact while crews installed new floor-to-ceiling windows at the front of the building.
Not only did the weather cooperate, but the participation of the capital campaign committee helped things move forward quickly. Capital Campaign Committee member Jake Fulkerson and co-chair Al Logan visited the project site.
“They come here at least once a week, I would say sometimes a couple times a week. But because they are active partners and involved, some of the decisions that have been made have helped with quick turnaround and progress — we didn’t wait,” Peterson said.
Busse said there is still $300,000 left to raise the project’s $3.2 million goal. To achieve that goal, the ImagineIF Foundation will hold a Fill The Shelves Final Fundraiser on July 11 at the new Bigfork branch.
Montana authors Mark Sullivan and Leslie Budewitz will be the special guests, along with music by Tomara, a live auction, a silent auction and a paddle raise. Tickets are $100 each and can be purchased at Imagineilibraryfoundation.org/newbigforklibrary. Anyone with questions can contact Andrea Goff, co-chair of the Bigfork Capital Campaign Committee, at 406-471-9847.
Local businesses are also holding fundraisers for the new library. Nancy O Interiors is offering 5% of all sales through June, El Topo is hosting a fundraising dinner on June 26 where they will donate 20% of their sales, and Birch Provisions is donating 10% of sales from July 1 to 10. Harvest Foods is also offering a donation option for its customers from July 8 to 19.
Busse said the finish line for the project is “so close.”
“This is the grand community walk that we all have to take together to open the doors of this incredible gift to the Bigfork community,” Busse said.
The expected opening date of the new library to the public is early August.
To learn more about the project and to donate, visit: imagineilibraryfoundation.org/newbigforklibrary.
Reporter Taylor Inman can be reached at 406-758-4433 or by emailing tinman@dailyinterlake.com.
The front of the new Bigfork branch of Flathead County Library. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle)
