Two benefactors have stepped forward with a combined $105,000 in donations that will help put a new roof on the original 1924 Ilsley Public Library building at 75 Main St.

As recently reported by the Independent, library officials reported late last month that additional deterioration discovered in the historic building’s slate-shingle roof will require the surface to be replaced, as opposed to patched. That unforeseen task — coupled with newly discovered marble damage and the need to remove a large concrete structure found buried at the front of the existing library stairs — was expected to gobble up around $300,000 of a $432,000 contingency buffer that had been built into an ongoing $17 million renovation and expansion of the Ilsley.

But Ilsley Director Dana Hart said two anonymous donors recently stepped forward with a combined $105K to apply toward the extra expenses.

Hart was thankful for the contributions but said more fundraising — and grant writing — will be done to ensure the Ilsley project finishes on time and on budget. Plans call for a mid-summer 2026 completion date.

“As of now, a portion of the new roof will still need to be paid for by the project contingency, but hopefully future gifts will continue to reduce the pressure on our project contingency,” she said.

Workers have demolished and removed the library’s 1977 and 1988 additions. The Ilsley’s original 1924 building is being retained, restored, and equipped with a new, 8,000-square-foot, two-story addition on its northeast side. The design-building team of ReArch Company/Wiemann Lamphere Architects is in charge of the project.

John Flowers is at [email protected].