Inspire, Spring 2012

Xenia branch. She learned that the Cedarville community would need to build the building, and then the Greene County Library would provide the materials and staff. When Bosma approached then-Mayor Jim Phipps ’68 about a new library, she found he was committed to the project. He referred her to Fred Luttenberger, a Cedarville businessman. A former campaign manager for then-Sen. Mike DeWine, Fred (as well as his late wife, Mary) had a passion to see a new library built in Cedarville, so he was very interested in participating. State and local politicians were good resources as well, and several were willing to discuss the needs. While no direct financial assistance came from these meetings, the representatives became aware of the project and verbally supported it throughout the district. One state representative, an architect, drew the library’s first building plan. Raising the Funds Although not a fundraiser by nature, Bosma helped to secure support from every layer of government: state, county, township, village, and nonprofit sources. A former Cedarville High School teacher wrote a letter asking Cedarville High School alumni to support the library. Many people were excited and willing to give to this project; they had just needed someone to lead the campaign. With money coming in from many sources, Bosma made arrangements with the Greene County Foundation to collect, record, and hold the money. Along the way, Bosma saw instances that reminded her that God was working behind the scenes to provide at just the right time. “At the beginning of the project, we needed $11,000 to keep the process moving,” she said. “I shared this need with a colleague, and the next day she gave me an $11,000 check. This generosity kept the project alive!” Later in the building phase, an unexpected $250,000 Rural Development Grant kept the project moving forward. Bosma learned that Fred Luttenberger had quietly applied for this grant through Sen. DeWine. Altogether, foundations and generous donors contributed $750,000 for the library. Finishing the Project While the library project began as simply solving a problem, for Bosma it grew into a passion that combined her gifts of organization and leadership with her love for libraries. Passion for a project, however, does not necessarily translate into quick or easy success. Bosma began her six-month sabbatical expecting to move into the building phase of the project by the end of that year. “When the sabbatical ended,” she said, “the project came to a halt. There were details on paper for how to move forward, but there was no one to take the lead.” Keeping the project going required a volunteer leader who had both the passion and time to commit to the effort. After a year, Bosma asked her boss if she could once again spearhead this project while also working full time. Although her commitment would at times overlap with her work schedule, he encouraged her to “jump back in.” While the initial plan was to build the library on Main Street, Joe Harkleroad ’77, a Cedarville builder, presented another solution. He owned an acre of property one block off Main Street. Although he was in the process of designing a building on this property, he was willing to change his initial plan to include the library. It became clear that God had provided both the location and a conscientious builder. Once construction was completed, the new library opened its doors to patrons on February 28, 2005. Changing Her Priorities Bosma believes that community service can be a rewarding part of everyone’s life experience. “Not everyone is interested, or even able, to lead a building campaign, but everyone can make a difference in small ways,” she said. “Community service is not about how much a person does but about taking action in some meaningful way — donating canned goods to a church pantry or time to a local event. It could even be driving someone to a doctor’s appointment.” The goal is to make a positive difference in someone’s life; the byproduct is the joy it brings while you serve. Now Bosma cannot imagine her life without being involved in community service. Since the completion of the library, Bosma has served as president of the Cedarville Opera House and as a trustee of the Greene County Public Library board. She desires to continue in public service even into retirement. By sharing her years of library experience, Bosma helped the village of Cedarville realize its dream of a new library. Step inside the Cedarville branch to see how her vision and passion benefited a whole community. Jan Bosma is the associate dean for library administration at the Cedarville University Centennial Library. She has worked in library science since 1978 and has been at Cedarville since 1982. You may contact her at bosmaj@cedarville.edu. Cheryl (Warren) Brugel ’90 lives in Grandville, Michigan, with her husband, Steve, and four children. While her most rewarding job is being mom to her children, she enjoys quiet moments to write for publications such as Inspire and the OARBC Link . You may contact her at scbrugel@yahoo.com. 7 Steps to Get Involved • Find your passion. Assess your gifts and abilities as you consider the needs in your community. • Read. Do some research about the issues you care about. Your local newspaper will have stories about local challenges and opportunities. • Volunteer. This is a great way to meet other people who share your interests. • Show up. Attend city council meetings to learn about needs in your community. • Network. Talk with industry leaders and anyone who might have a stake in the project. • Document. Keep a record of the people you meet, the promises you make, and the dollars you spend. • Make it official. Your local elected representatives can be a helpful resource as you discern next steps.