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Meridian Library Foundation Receives $250K Grant to Support North Branch

The Meridian Library District’s future north Meridian location has received a $250,000 boost, thanks to a grant from the Sunderland Foundation.

Construction of the 15,000-square-foot library in the Orchard Park development at Linder Road and Chinden Boulevard began last summer. The Meridian Library District will be a long-term tenant in the building and is set to begin interior tenant improvements later this spring. The new library is expected to open for services in December 2022.

The Orchard Park library will bring literary resources and support to residents in a fast-growing and currently underserved area of Meridian. It is one of four projects supported by a $14 million plant facility levy passed by Meridian voters in 2019.

“This is a unique new library location, designed with an emphasis on accessibility and adaptability,” said Library Director Gretchen Caserotti. “We’re very excited to share this space with our community.”

The nonprofit Meridian Library Foundation is fundraising to supplement levy funds for the project. The $250,000 grant from the Kansas-based Sunderland Foundation will assist with rising construction costs, which have been impacted by skyrocketing prices for building materials. The grant support will also allow the Meridian Library District to save levy funds for the two additional capital projects on the horizon: construction of a new south Meridian library and renovation of the central Cherry Lane library.

“We are so grateful for the Sunderland Foundation’s support of this project and commitment to fostering strong, vibrant communities,” said Meridian Library Foundation Manager Eryn Turner. “This grant will help build the innovative library space our community needs.”

The Foundation has secured an additional $54,000 in private donations and grants to help purchase technology and build out book collections for the new Orchard Park library.

10/25/2021 UPDATE

The Foundation was awarded a $7500 Community Ties Giving Program Workforce Development Grant from Union Pacific toward the purchase of a Muse Titan Laser.

"This new Muse Titan Laser will be a new favorite among staff and patrons as it can engrave/cut most wood, fabric, leather, glass, stone, & more. This technology is easy to learn and use, and will offer 5x the print build capacity, and a more powerful laser than the current model at unBound." - Nick Grove, Tech Library Manager for unBound

This grant was awarded as a Workforce Development Grant. @unionpacific has an interest in "up-skilling" the existing workforce by providing training and resources that enable them to reach the next level of their career. unBound is also dedicated to providing education and career resources to help the workforce build on existing, or learn new skills that can launch them to the next levels of their career.

Thank you to Union Pacific for making this project possible!

For more information on projects we've funded, please visit our Projects Page!

10/4/2021 UPDATE:

A new refrigerator & countertop dishwasher have been purchased for the unBound Technology Library to improve breakroom amenities & public programming.

This project has been made possible by the ACHD Commuteride Workspace Mobility Grant!

For more information on this and other Workspace Mobility Grant recipients, please visit commuteride.com/mobility-grant

ACHD Commuteride was established in 1976 as a program of the Ada County Highway District to promote smart commute options through education, rideshare services, and effective partnerships in the community. Today, it operates the oldest multi-employer vanpool program in the country and provides commute programs for Treasure Valley employers and residents.

7/19/2021 UPDATE:

The Meridian Library Foundation recently received a $4,500 Grant from the ON Semiconductor Foundation for a new Form Labs 3D Printer for MLD's new unBound Technology Library.

We’re grateful to partner with the ON Semiconductor Foundation to expand the resources of the Meridian Library District. The ON Semiconductor Foundation made the purchase of this new 3D Printer possible due to its commitment to serving the needs of communities across the globe through the investment of resources. Since 2016, the company has funded more than $6.5 million in grants, employee matching and in-kind donations, as well as sponsorships and dollars-for-doers for employee volunteerism. “Investing in the communities in which we operate and where our employees live is critical to our organization as we look to continue our legacy of giving and volunteering,” said Theresa Haywood-McCarley, board secretary for the ON Semiconductor Foundation. “On behalf of the ON Semiconductor Foundation, we’re proud to support the work of the Meridian Library Foundation as we work toward making the world better together.”

We are delighted to announce that this new technology has been purchased and is now available to our community for use at the downtown technology branch.

For more information on projects we've funded, please visit our Projects Page!

6/28/2021 UPDATE:

Thank you to the Greater Boise Rotary Foundation for generously awarding the Meridian Library Foundation a $3000 Small Grant for a special youth collection for Orchard Park that includes materials like the Social Thinking Curriculum (that teach self-regulation, social-emotional skills, & more) for parents, caregivers, and educators of children with various special needs and abilities.

The Meridian Library District also pledged to earmark $3000 for this special collection for a dedicated total of $6000 for this "Special Needs Book Collection".

9/10/2020 UPDATE:
Thanks to the generous support at our recent Panda Fundraiser, the Meridian Library Foundation was able to partially fund the purchase of a new Ultimaker 3D printer (remaining funding made possible through MLD's National Medal Award).

Impact and alignment with unBound focus:

Impact - Entrepreneurs & small businesses can produce prototypes or proof-of-concept models
Workforce Development - Improves user access to additive manufacturing & encourages development of product computer aided design skills
unBound Focus - Create resources for small businesses & entrepreneurs in our community to quickly test/prove/improve new ideas

For more information on projects we've funded, please visit our Projects Page!