Mapleton collecting for library

MAPLETON — Mapleton is starting a special collection for a library — but this collection isn't a series of rare or one-of-a-kind books.

Mapleton is collecting donations of cash, furniture and computers for a city library, which will be housed in an under-construction $1.7 million city government complex.

Cash donations have reached $70,000. The largest gift is $20,000 from Central Bank.

On Friday the city, which launched a drive to raise $600,000 in donations for the library, received a $10,000 donation from the Foundation for the American West and the John and Naomi Riding Family Fund.

Another $3,700 came from Charity Never Faileth, a charity founded by former mayor Richard Young.

Donations of construction materials and furnishings have topped $104,000, said City Manager Bob Bradshaw.

A nine-person fund-raising committee wants to involve all residents in fund-raising for the library.

"Even the children," said Merrill Gappmayer, chairman of the committee. "It will be good for them to be able to say, ' This is my library. I helped pay for it. "

Donation slips were sent to residents with the last city newsletter.

"They're just beginning to trickle in," Bradshaw said.

The city also is sending out invitations to the town's more than 300 home businesses to donate for the library. A thermometer graphically measuring the success of the fund-raising will go up soon near City Hall on the corner of Maple Street and Main.

Bradshaw admits he was skeptical at first that Mapleton residents would donate enough money to complete the library project.

"I'm becoming converted that this will work," he said.