Library foundation: $1 million donor, 82% of children’s wing funding raised

Bob DeMarzo, president of the Pembroke Public Library Foundation, used the opening portion of the evening to outline the foundation’s plan for a roughly 2,700‑square‑foot addition to the library’s children’s wing. The addition would include a large children’s reading and program room, a local-history and archives room, two private study rooms (one intended as a podcast studio), storage and bathrooms; the young-adult room would expand by about 50% by reclaiming the current trustee room.

Fundraising status and donor: DeMarzo said 82% of the funds have already been raised via private donations and identified a major benefactor pair, Alan and Linda Peterson, who have given $1,000,000. He said the majority of funding so far is private and that, in anticipation of a town‑meeting vote (the finance committee, select board and town manager recommended approval), no borrowing or override should be required for the addition. "In anticipation of a town meeting vote of which the finance committee, the select board and the town managers have recommended to approve, there will be no need for borrowing or an override to pay this addition. It will be paid in full," DeMarzo said.

Volunteerism and community support: DeMarzo used the remarks to highlight volunteerism and local fundraising groups and invited residents to donate or dedicate items (tables, chairs, equipment) through the library or by check to the Pembroke Public Library Foundation.

Provenance: Library presentation and donor details are in the meeting transcript beginning at SEG 038 and continuing through SEG 163.