Thank you for being here today.

Today is a new start to a new future for the O’Brien Memorial Library. For now a small start here but, it will lead to a better future.

We have a mission to provide a welcoming space to the residents and visitors of Blue River and the McKenzie River Valley, including accessibility to books, inspiring the love of reading, and promoting lifelong reading.

The outpouring of support has been amazing. So very many have stepped forward to help us. The Bottle Boys and others have provided constant support. We are grateful for the opportunity to have our temporary library location here at the Upper McKenzie Community Center.

Lee Gire was invaluable in convincing the insurance company to make a fair payment on the value of our books and movies. Once that money came in, we were able to purchase 2 lots that will give us a location on Blue River Drive in the heart of the community.

We have received many contributions from individual community members and very much appreciate them. We are still, at this time, limited in space and our ability to receive more donated books.

Among the early grants were one from the Lane Library League, another from the Ford Foundation and one from the Oregon Community Credit Union, The Oregon Cultural Trust, and Altrusa. The United Way and The Oregon Community Foundation have been very generous. Last, but not least, the wonderful grant that Senator Floyd Prozanski worked so hard on from the State of Oregon for $1.4 million to help us rebuild.

Our county commissioner Heather Buch has worked tirelessly for all of us in the McKenzie Valley as we work to rebuild and has been a great help to us.

Each of our board members have worked tirelessly to get things up and running so we could open today.

Thank you all.

—Priscilla Oxley, Board Member President