Parker Library using raffle to raise money for building project

The board of Linn County Library District No. 1 in Parker is using the raffle of a lifetime fishing and hunting permit to raise money to add to the existing building. (Screen capture, Linn County Library District #1 Facebook page)

PARKER – The board of Linn County Library District No, 1 is in the midst of a fundraising drive that organizers hope will finance an increase in the size of the Parker Library by 2,400 square feet. That additional space will help the library to better serve the surrounding community, according to librarian Kay Bowman.

To help raise the money, the library is sponsoring a raffle for a lifetime Kansas hunting and fishing license. With only 150 tickets being sold at $25 each, the odds of winning the raffle – valued at nearly $1,000 – are high relative to other raffles.

The drawing for the winning ticket will be at the board meeting on Oct. 12. The winner does not need to be present to win.

With about $72,000 in the library’s building fund already, the board and staff are hoping to close the gap between the money on hand and the estimated cost of $155,000, she said. The board has already received to two bids to just enclose the 40-foot-by-40-foot addition, and both are less than $90,000.

The library currently is 40-foot-by-40-foot, and that space is, except for a table and a few chairs, packed with books, movie DVDs and magazines.

Bowman said that the addition would allow the library to have a meeting room for community groups, make better space for the children’s book collection, and allow the addition of a kitchen, restroom and storage area. That will also help as the library runs its summer reading program.

The library recently changed its hours to weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bowman said there was very little use of the library after 5 p.m., so the change was made to reflect that.

To get tickets for the raffle, you can pick them up at the library at 302 W. Main St. in Parker, or call (913) 898-4650.