A Community Celebration Event
Residents invited to commemorate new library location
in downtown Grants Pass
Grants Pass, July 17, 2023 — Josephine Community Library Foundation is inviting community members to celebrate the purchase of the property for a new downtown library in Grants Pass during “A Community Celebration” on Saturday, July 22 from 10-12 at the location of the new library property on the city block between 6th and 7th Streets and J and K Streets. Free ice cream, cotton candy, and popcorn will be available. Attendees will be a part of a historical photo at 11am to be hung in the future library.
The library foundation purchased the block between 6th and 7th Streets and J and K Streets for a new library in downtown Grants Pass as part of its support of new and improved facilities for Josephine Community Library and the community. Thanks to library leaders, individual and foundation donors, and grant funders, the community raised $1,925,000 in private contributions to purchase the property.
A crowdfund earlier this year raised $254,000 to match a $250,000 capstone gift from Four Way Community Foundation. Additional supporters include Oregon Cultural Trust, Oregon Community Foundation, Avista Foundation, the Bennett Fund, Echo Fund, and more than 200 individual donors.
“Reaching this important milestone in our journey to a new library in Grants Pass was made possible by resounding community support,” said Josephine Community Library Foundation Executive Director Rebecca Stoltz. “We are excited to see plans for a future library and community center begin to take shape now and over the next few years. Thank you to everyone who made this possible!”
Next steps include collecting community feedback about features and services the public would like to see implemented in the future library building.
The Grants Pass library has outgrown its current building where it has been since 1959. Early concept designs for the new location include expanded children and teen spaces, meeting rooms, and an outdoor community space. For more information about this project and Josephine Community Library Foundation, visit jclfoundation.org.
English 
Spanish