NEDERLAND - On Saturday, February 8, 2025, the Nederland Community Library (NCL) came alive after hours for their Winter Gala.

The fundraising event was hosted by the NCL Foundation, which organized the fancy affair of music, wine, indulgent treats, and dancing to raise money for enhancements to the library’s outdoor reading garden.

For one night, Peak to Peak residents were able to mingle, laugh, and sing among the stacks of books. Guests enjoyed a beautiful charcuterie spread, delicious finger sandwiches, and enticing desserts, along with their choice of a wide variety of wines, poured by friendly and knowledgeable volunteers, while Mountain Reverb matched the dimly lit mood with their soulful blues rock. 

NCL Director Elektra Greer took the microphone to shush the crowd, as only a professional librarian can, to introduce them to the exciting artistic project coming soon to the library: Book Man, a proposed seven foot tall sculpture of a man created out of books. 

Greer thanked the crowd and introduced NCL Foundation President Susan Kelly. “I want to welcome everyone here today,” Kelly said. “We’re so excited to bring the community together tonight.

“Our foundation is the arm of the library that raises funds to improve programs and add new things to the library—for example, the reading garden, the summer reading program, the winter reading program, and our book man sculpture that will be coming soon.”

Kelly gave a shoutout to all the members of the foundation, including Secretary Linda Bukatko, Director Audrey Godell, Vice President Kathy Guyton, Treasurer Patty Stanfield, and Directors Amy LaRue and Elizabeth Smith, for their work on the gala. She then detailed to the crowd what they were raising funds for.

“We want to put a roof over the stage; we want to plant flowers, to have lights, to have chairs, and to make it a truly remarkable experience,” Kelly explained. 

In 2023, the NCL Gala’s goal was to raise funds for a proposed outdoor reading garden to be constructed on the lawn just east of the main building. It was conceived as a small, intimate park with ADA-compliant access, a raised stone terrace, and a covered seating deck. It was to be used for various outdoor NCL events.

The ribbon was cut on the reading garden on August 10, 2024, unveiling a successful collaboration between the NCL Board of Directors, NCL Foundation, and NCL staff and volunteers. 

“This was the one thing that everybody on the Board unanimously agreed that we should do,” NCL Board member Scott Papich said during the ribbon cutting ceremony. “It just makes me so happy to see this garden become a reality.”

“This day has been a long time coming,” Board President Scarlett Ponton de Dutton said. “We as a Board want to thank the library staff who have worked tirelessly to make this day happen; so it is my happiness and joy to cut this ribbon!”

The 2025 “Raise the Roof” Winter Gala offered participants chances to bid on or buy rare books, some over 100 years old, some signed copies. There were books for sale, and collections available to win in a silent auction, but the library’s most rare, odd, and unique books were auctioned off to the crowd by NCL Foundation Treasurer Stanfield, who served as the official auctioneer. 

For lovers of literature and of the library, these classic and contemporary tomes are perfect treasures that offer infinite worlds of knowledge, entertainment, and experiences.  

As the gala rocked into the night, Mountain Reverb suddenly paused their set for a very special announcement. Greer and Stanfield, practically exploding with emotion, announced to the crowd that the library had received an anonymous donation of $50,000.

“We’ll be able to rent out the reading garden for events, we’re hoping for outdoor concerts, we’re hoping for reading programs for the children,” Stanfield excitedly explained. “Whatever you need, we are here for you as your community library. On behalf of the Foundation and behalf of the NCL, thank you so much!”

“We’re all about to cry,” Greer yelled.

This incredible act of local philanthropy fueled the mood for the rest of the event, arousing the crowd to sing louder and dance without care.

Mountain Reverb rode the wave of emotion and played to the crowd, belting out an infectious cover of 4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up,” which led to a rousing singalong, with the words “what’s going on” echoing throughout the building and dazzling the night.

The Nederland Community Library is located at 200 Highway 72, Nederland. To find out more about their programs, check out the website at https://nederland.colibraries.org/.