Casey Library Board Hires Architect to Draft Expansion Plans, Lays Groundwork for Fundraising

Casey Township Library Board of Trustees Meeting | September 4, 2025

Article Summary: The Casey Township Library Board of Trustees has officially authorized an architect to develop concrete plans and cost estimates for a potential library expansion. The move is a critical first step in a future fundraising campaign that will target local citizens and alumni for support.

Library Expansion Planning Key Points:

• The board voted to engage the architectural firm Cordogan Clark to create projected plans and determine the cost for a library addition.

• These “hard numbers” and plans are considered essential for an effective fundraising campaign.

• Friends of the Library President Tom Daughhetee advised that a face-to-face fundraising approach will be most successful.

• The board is exploring financial assistance available to non-profits to ensure proper management of campaign funds.

The Casey Township Library Board of Trustees on Thursday, September 4, 2025, took a significant step toward expanding its facility by voting to hire an architect to draft formal plans and provide cost estimates for an addition.

Librarian Gretchen Murphy introduced the topic, stating the need to meet with the library’s architect, Cordogan Clark, to settle on projected plans and costs. Following her presentation, a motion was made and unanimously carried to move ahead with securing the plans and cost analysis from the firm, with the board agreeing to cover the expense of acquiring the preliminary information.

This decision directly supports a future capital campaign, as outlined by Friends of the Library President Tom Daughhetee. He explained to the board that library representatives will need “hard numbers and plans from the architect” when approaching potential donors. He stressed that the marketing team’s efforts will be more successful if they can present a clear vision and a concrete budget to individuals face-to-face. “Successful citizens and alumni will be our best assets,” Daughhetee noted from the minutes.

He also informed the board of potential resources available to help manage a fundraising campaign. According to Daughhetee, the organization South-Eastern Illinois can offer financial assistance to non-profit facilities to help them avoid the need for an audit, particularly when various types of funds are received during a campaign. This guidance will help the board ensure financial transparency and proper accounting as it moves toward its expansion goal.

The meeting was attended by President Susie Mathews, Secretary Karen Bradford, and trustees Shelley Crouch and Sharon Durham, as well as Librarian Gretchen Murphy and Tom Daughhetee.