Eagle Mtn. Scout buys badge books for library

EAGLE MOUNTAIN — The city library has received two copies each of the 120 merit badge books necessary for Boy Scouts to learn how to earn their awards, thanks to an Eagle Scout project.

Matthew McInelly collected more than $1,000 from family and residents to buy the books, said his mother, Debbie McInelly. Originally he was going to collect enough to buy just one copy of each book, but the library asked if he could double the donation. At the same time, the organization came out with new books, which dramatically raised the price.

"He almost panicked," she said.

As part of the process, the Scout with Troop 1016 created donation receipts on the family home computer so donors could get a tax deduction from their contribution.

The Eagle Mountain City Library may be the first library in the nation to get a full set of the new, full-color books, said librarian Janae Wahnschaffe. Other libraries around Utah have the older books and plan to replace them as budgets allow.

"We have a lot of Scouts out here," Wahnschaffe said. "This will help motivate them to stick with it."

— Rodger L. Hardy