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The 30-year-old Oakwood resident is one of the many patrons of the library who will benefit from the $250,000 grant the library received from the Jack W. and Sally D. Eichelberger Foundation.
“The library is my first pick if I can’t get any quiet time at home,” said Fitch, who has two children, Guy, 9, and Daisy, 6. “I think the grant is amazing, especially for updating the furniture and making it more comfortable. A lot of diverse members in our community use the library for reading and studying.”
The library is located at 1776 Far Hills Ave.
The grant allows the library to restore its historic reading rooms and foyer, relocate and integrate the circulation and research desks, and create a small conference room and study area.
“We are very grateful to the Eichelberger Foundation for this generous gift, which will give us the opportunity to implement some much needed improvements and updates to this beautiful building,” said Wright Library director Kristi Hale.
Besides improvements to the historic front reading rooms, the grant will be used for new light fixtures appropriate to the architecture, refinished/supplemental furnishings, convenient power access, refinished woodwork and new carpet. The central information desk will be customized to improve functionality and customer service.
“Over the past few years, we conducted extensive research to discover the priorities of Oakwood residents for Wright Library. We learned that they have a very high regard for Wright Library as an important Oakwood institution, and they want to see its historic beauty preserved and its functionality and accessibility improved,” said library director Kristi Hale. “While there are many major renovations that we cannot afford to implement right now, this gift will allow us to restore and update the historic parts of the building in a way that will make Oakwood residents very proud.”
Jack Eichelberger was a graduate of Oakwood High School, a local attorney and a lifelong resident of Oakwood. Sally, his Irish-born wife, worked with Jack for many years in his law office and was a devoted member of the Dayton Woman’s Club. The couple was legendary for their common touch. They lived on Runnymede Lane next to Dayton Country Club golf course in a home originally built by the Talbott family.
“Jack had a real affection for his hometown. The Eichelberger Foundation Trustees have been looking for a number of years for a suitable opportunity to enhance the Oakwood community in Jack and Sally’s memory,” said library trustee Lu Ann Stanley. “This generous grant will allow us to preserve the historic areas, improve the Library’s functionality, and provide additional meeting and study space for our patrons. We are incredibly grateful to the Eichelberger Foundation Trustees.”
The Jack W. and Sally D. Eichelberger Foundation was established in 2008 through The Dayton Foundation. It has provided support for many nonprofit organizations like United Way. So far, nearly $4.5 million from the foundation has been awarded to benefit the Dayton community.
The project is slated to begin later this year. The library’s board of trustees chose local architect firm LWC, Inc. for the renovations.
Contact this contributing writer at PamDillon@woh.rr.com.
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More info: Go online to www.wrightlibrary.org.
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