A community-wide effort to refurbish Otego's library and a historic adjoining house is gaining momentum.
The volunteer-driven effort to support the Harris Memorial Library at 334 Main St. was boosted in recent weeks by a concert and an antique appraisal event, said Mary Johnson-Butler, secretary for the library board of trustees.
This Saturday, the library is hosting a book sale and raffle between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
"This is a community effort," Johnson-Butler said.
The last owner of the house, Dasa Harris, left it to the village in 1976 for use as a library, Johnson-Butler said.
In 1980, the village decided to build an extension on the house to serve as the library. She cited concerns that the old home could not support the weight of books
The result was the Harris Memorial Library and the adjoining Harris House.
The library operates as a nonprofit organization and had never had financial difficulties until recently, Johnson-Butler said.
"All through the years, we've been very solvent," Johnson-Butler said.
The library replaced the roof on the home last year and that cost $20,000, she said.
But it was also learned that the roof over the library, as well as a wrap-around porch on the home, needed to be repaired.
The library roof is estimated to cost $12,000, while the porch is estimated at $15,500.
"We just did not have those kinds of funds," she said.
However, Johnson-Butler said, many volunteers in the community have stepped up in the last few months to help raise funds for the work.
In August, a concert was organized by Otego resident Cindy Donaldson. A few weeks later, Buzz Hesse of Hesse Galleries in Otego held an Antique Roadshow-type event at the Otego Fire Hall, Johnson-Butler said.
Hesse donated his time to do appraisals of antiques for people who gave $10 donations for every two items. In addition to telling people what their antiques were worth, Hesse also talked about the history behind the items, Johnson-Butler said.
"He had a crowd of people just sitting there enthralled all day," she said.
The library board has so far raised about $8,000 through the special events, as well as through donations from Otego area residents and businesses.
Library board members are hopeful they can raise more money this Saturday.
The raffle drawings will be at 2 p.m. Prizes include a $50 gas gift certificates; $50 Price Chopper gift certificates; and other gift certificates and items.
In addition to helping raise money, Otego area residents have also been helping to run the library since August after the librarian suffered a hip injury.
"They are so amazing," Johnson-Butler said.
The Harris Memorial Library is open from 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; 2 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays; and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.
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