About 70 people helped kick off a campaign Thursday afternoon to raise $2 million to purchase materials, furniture, equipment and other items for Albany's new library.

The library is moving from its location at 1390 Waverly Drive S.E. to the former Unitrin building at 2450 14th Ave. S.E. It is expected to open by early 2009.

Until then, crews will be putting down new carpeting, installing a new heating and cooling system, replacing walls, removing the false ceilings and bringing in girders to shore up the second floor.

Those attending the kick-off of the Centennial Campaign for Our Great Library at the new location included state Sen. Frank Morse, mayor-designee Dan Bedore, City Manager Wes Hare, and Robert B. Hulshof-Schmidt, the program manager of Governmental Research and Electronic Services for the state library in Salem.

Former mayor Chuck McLaran said Morse told the crowd the number of library users across the country exceeds the total spectators at all baseball, football, basketball, hockey and soccer games combined. McLaran and his wife, Kathy, are spearheading the fund drive.

Hulshof-Schmidt, who was raised in Albany, spoke about how much he enjoyed going to the Carnegie Library downtown, and how that experience steered him toward a career as a librarian, McLaran said.

Other speakers were high school student Alyssa Schrems, sixth-grade teacher Lynn Dunn, home-school parent Mark Staneart and stay-at-home dad Phil Rempel.

Additional tours will be offered between 1 and 4 p.m. Feb. 6, 20 and 27.

To contribute to the campaign or arrange for speakers, contact library Director Ed Gallagher at 917-7589, or the McLarans at 928-3114.

Democrat-Herald