Celebrating 50 years of steady growth, The Community Library in Ketchum is holding a gala benefit 5:30 p.m. Sunday, March 13, at the library.
The private library doesn't receive any federal funds. It relies solely on donations and money raised at fundraisers and from the Gold Mine Thrift Store in Ketchum. Volunteers have always been an integral part of the library's ability to function.
Dubbed "A Moveable Feast," the library will be recreated into six different rooms where delectable edibles will evoke different works of literature. All the "dining rooms" are decorated by valley designers and coordinated by Patti Lindberg.
An Italian fetê is "Under the Tuscan Sun." French entrées evoke "Madame Bovary." "The Joy Luck Club" features a taste of the Orient, and the Regional History Room hosts—what else?—wild game as "Papa's Room." "Night of the Iguana," takes us south of the border, and deserts are served à la "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" in the Children's Library.
"There'll be things everywhere," Library board member Julianne Roos said. "The idea for the party was our 50th anniversary year and getting the community involved and educating them about what we have, during a fun and interesting evening."
The Library's new development director, Tom Smith, said this is the main fund raising event for the year in lieu of the annual home tour, usually held in the summer. Last year marked the 30th year of continuous home tours. The tradition will resume in 2006.
"Instead, we're celebrating through our regular activities and lectures," Smith said. "For Women's History Month, we're hosting Jennifer Jordan when she screens her film "Women of K2" and signs her book "Savage Summit: The True Stories of the First Five Women Who Climbed K2."
"Of course, we'll have a ceremony with a cake, and toast the next 50 years," Smith added. "The party is really to celebrate the library and the people who've donated time and money to it."
The dress is cocktail attire. For more information on the event, call The Community Library at 788-3493.
