Library officials launch $2.5M capital campaign

Two Springfield civic leaders are spearheading a capital campaign to raise $2.5 million for the Brentwood branch of the Springfield-Greene County Library District.

Leading the campaign is Brooke O'Reilly, past-president of the Junior League of Springfield and managing owner of Big Red Investments LLC, and Stephanie Stenger Montgomery, an attorney and president and CEO of Springfield Land LP, according to a news release.

Plans, designed by Dake Wells Architecture Inc., call for updating the 1971-built structure, 2214 Brentwood Blvd., by adding a drive-up window, expanded parking, meeting rooms, an energy-efficient HVAC system, separate children's and teens' departments and a public computer room. The library district is seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification on the project.

“Although it is called the ‘silent phase’ of the capital campaign, this phase is anything but quiet,” Library Foundation Director Valerie Richardson said in the release. “I think this phase of the campaign should really be called the ‘leadership phase,’ because it is during this time that our team will be getting commitments for the leadership gifts that will guarantee that the public phase of the campaign is successful.”

The foundation has raised nearly $112,000 toward the goal, $100,000 of which came from Friends of the Library. A timeline for the project has not been set.

“We are very fortunate to have the leadership of Brooke and Stephanie for the Brentwood capital campaign,” Richardson said in the release. “They each have a history of being enthusiastically involved in causes that impact Springfield and Greene County.

"Their combined experience in business, fundraising and networking will be a winning strategy for the campaign."