Small building, big heart:
Volunteer-run library serves community with passion
GAIL CUSHMAN, SCN Contributor
I recently spent some time in the tiny A-framed building on Absarokee’s Main Street, and found it filled with love, commitment, hope and — oh, a lot of books and other media. It is a tiny building with a big heart, and a bunch of volunteers who keep that heart beating.
I’m talking about the Absarokee Lending Library, manned by lifelong
Absarokee resident Roseanna Lohof, who — along with her many volunteers
— keeps it open several days a week. Roseanna estimated that they serve
between 130- 300 patrons a month, depending on the season, weather and other unpredictable events. This is a private library and receives no
public/government funding. The goal is to be self-sustaining, and they are
making progress.
GETTING STARTED
Originally books were donated from a single home library, seeding the
endeavor to gain a library in the fall of 2018. The initial library location was in the Rex Anderson building (across the street from its current location).
Although several helped maintain the startup, Ed and Diane Hamilton — along with Sara Kerr — kept things going and were behind the move to the current building. Both the Catholic Church and the Episcopalian churches owned the building at one time, and when the Episcopal Church left Absarokee, they rented the building to the library. When they decided to sell it, Clara and Gary Borland purchased the building for the library to use.
The library board is purchasing the building and holds a few fundraisers each year to help pay down the mortgage, which is currently under $50,000. They receive a few grants, but the grants provide money for books and other projects, not to pay off a mortgage, so they are still working to become self-sustaining.
This board includes Roseanna (President) Secretary Heidi Gunderson, Vice
president Jim Bretherick, Treasurer Greg Waite, and Member-at-large Dianne French (all volunteers).
Meetings of the board are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Rosebud Room (AKA the garage) and are open to the public.
KEEPING THE DOORS OPEN
The library’s chief fundraising method is called the 24-7 Plan, which has a goal of acquiring 24 local donors to donate $700 a year for five years, which boils down to about $60/month, or less than an outing to a good restaurant (or even a bad one, these days). Ninety percent of the books are donated, but Roseanna said she can usually find money for a book that someone wants. She praised the Snow Flake Festival and local artist Steve Kerr for help providing donations. A group called Sisters on the Fly has also stepped in to provide some funding and publicity. The current project is to build a patio, which honors Bill Pelton, who helped initiate the 24-7 fundraising plan and was a consistent contributor to the library. He passed away from cancer a short time ago.
STARTING SMALL
Roseanna started volunteering at the library on Wednesday mornings. Little did she know her volunteerism would morph into something more full-time. Sue Waite, who often volunteers, praised Roseanna, saying “I don’t think we would be where we are today without her. She gives her all and keeps the rest of the volunteers going. We are lucky to have her.”
Every librarian has a wish list, and Roseanna is no different, but her goals go
beyond library items. Ultimately Roseanna said she’d like to see the library be more integrated into the community and would like to see it utilized more. She’d also like some assistance to modernize the library and keep it technologically up to speed. This includes improving and maintaining the website on a regular basis. And, of course, Roseanna is always looking for volunteers to man the library every Thursday morning and Friday afternoon, so if you have a few extra hours during the week, call Roseanna at
(406) 321-6173 or send an email to absarokeelibrary@nemont.net.
The Absarokee Lending Library is open Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is open 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It is located at 111 S. Woodard Ave. For more information, check out the library’s Facebook page.
Absarokee Lending Library Board President Roseanna Lohof, right, and volunteer Sue Waite work together earlier this week, doing their part to make the space a treasure filled with “good things, good people and good books.”
GAIL CUSHMAN
Copyright (c) 2025 Stillwater County News eEdition, Edition 5/22/2025
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Copyright (c) 2025 Stillwater County News eEdition, Edition 5/22/2025
Absarokee Lending Library 