New chapter begins with opening of Bigfork library branch

The new Bigfork branch of Flathead County Library is now open after years of hard work from dedicated community members, library and foundation staff.  

During a ribbon cutting ceremony on the morning of Aug. 6, ImagineIF Foundation Executive Director Sara Busse took a moment to address the group of children gathered in front of the new library.  

While the new library is for everyone, she said, the people who worked hard to build it had kids at the forefront of their minds.  

“A lot of really good people in Bigfork came together and they said, ‘We want a place for you to go have fun. We want a place for you to be able to grow up and learn something new.’ That's what we have. This is all for you,” Busse said.  

It was a momentous occasion for Bigfork residents and other library lovers who attended the opening day. Al Logan, Bigfork Library Capital Campaign Committee Chair, pointed out that the project has been in the works for more than a decade.  

But it was in 2018 when the ImagineIF Foundation bought the Ark Building from Bethany Lutheran Church that the dream started becoming a reality. Still, there were uphill battles to face. The pandemic stopped fundraising in its tracks, and later, confusion about the property transfer to the county caused uneasiness around those who supported the project. However, construction started last fall after the campaign relaunched earlier in 2023.  

Flathead County Library Board of Trustees Chair David Ingram told attendees on Tuesday that the property transfer to the county was successfully completed.  

“I hope this is just the first of many efforts between the county and our communities to enhance our library facilities so that we can have other patron groups enjoy it,” Ingram said.  

A donation of an undisclosed amount from Bert and Kari Arnlund put the Bigfork Capital Campaign over the fundraising goal of $3.2 million for the project.  

“Bigfork has been our home for 32 years, and a library has been needed for all 32," Bert Arnlund said. "Now this community has more than a library, they have a place to gather with others, increase literacy and show folks how great Bigfork is.” 

More than 420 individual donors contributed to the fundraising campaign through the library foundation. The named spaces include Bert and Kari Arnlund Community Room, AGL Foundation Children's Area, Laura Long Community Patio and Laura G. Barrett Reading Room. 

Patrons flooded into the new building, complete with roughly two to three times the number of books compared to the previous location inside the Bigfork Art and Cultural Center building. 

Bigfork Branch Manager Deidre McMullin said staff are finally feeling settled into the new library after spending a month of moving furniture, books and materials. 

“My favorite chairs are the ones by the big windows over there. It's the best place to sit and read,” McMullin said. “I'm imagining when it's winter and the snow is slowly falling and you're just sitting there watching,” 

The architecture firm on the project was Cushing-Terrell and the construction contractor was Martel Construction. 

Among the patrons who were excited to see the new building was Beth Ann Ray, a Bigfork resident who brought her 6-year-old, 3-year-old and 1-and-a-half-year-old. While they played in the children’s area, Ray said it means a great deal to have the new library close to home. 

“I was just telling the children's librarian that we used to always go to the Kalispell library, and now we are going to be spending so much more time here because of how amazing it is,” Ray said. “The brand new board books that I'm seeing are just so incredible ... there's an outdoor play area and the couches in here look so inviting, just to hang out with while the kids are playing.” 

Others, like 14-year-old Lyli Devries from Kalispell, said the new building is “very cool.” 

“It's just a huge place that has so many different books that can introduce me to something new,” Devries said.  

Another Kalispell resident who said she will make the trek down to Bigfork to see the new library was Joy Stohlberg, who brought her 5-year-old, 3-year-old and 1-year-old to check out the new children’s area.  

“I'm loving especially this kids' area, it just looks very functional in so many ways. And the kids love to play in it, of course. I'm also excited for programs — the meeting room over here looks like it'll work out really well,” Stohlberg said. 

Bigfork Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rebekah King said she’s not surprised the library has attracted patrons from other parts of the county noting that the new library will be a beneficial addition to the community in general. 

“It's the first intentionally built library in the Flathead Valley. So every part of this has been designed to be a library, between the community room, the outdoor space, the kids' space, it's just magic,” King said.  

After years of hard work, ImagineIF Foundation President Hilary Devlin got emotional talking about the long road to this opening.  

“It's been an amazing journey to see the community of Bigfork rally behind it and see that the beauty that can happen here,” Devlin said.  

Reporter Taylor Inman can be reached at 406-758-4433 or by emailing tinman@dailyinterlake.com.

    Bigfork Branch Manager Deidre McMullin cuts the ribbon to the new Bigfork Library at 186 Bridge Street with support from staff, donors, board members, capital campaign members and the community Tuesday, August 6. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle)
  

    Bert and Kari Arnlund (far left) are among the first to visit the new Bigfork Library during its grand opening Tuesday, August 6. The library's community room will be named after the Arlunds following a closing donation from the couple, bringing the total capital campaign to $3.2 million. Over 420 individual donors contributed. Other named areas include AGL Foundation Children's Area, Laura Long Community Patio, and Laura G. Barrett Reading Room. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle)
  

    Carter Neilson of Bigfork plays on the new Bridge Street library's computer during its grand opening Tuesday, August 6. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle)
  

    Visitors check out the new Bigfork library's children's area during its grand opening Tuesday, August 6. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle)
  

    A visitor checks out the art installation at the new Bigfork library; a photo project by Our Community Record Two Eagle River School, which serves students in the Flathead Nation, Tuesday, August 6. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle)
  

    Mari Schowachert (center) is the first person to get their library card at the new Bigfork library during its opening Tuesday, August 6. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle)
  

    Marisa Fulkerson reads to grandaughter Hanalei Holzwarth during the new Bigfork library's grand opening Tuesday, August 6. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle)
  

    Visitors peruse the books at the new Bigfork library during its grand opening Tuesday, August 6. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle)
  

    People explore the outdoor area at the new Bigfork library Tuesday, August 6. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle)