BY Riley elliott

Staff Reporter

Brooks Library formally invited students and community members to see the library in a different light at the Evening at the Brooks gala and silent auction fundraiser last Saturday.

The event featured appetizers and refreshments provided by Ellensburg Wineworks, as well as entertainment by Lenny Price, the Ellensburg Community Big Band and other local musicians.

Central’s faculty and students performed poetry and dramatic readings, while Central’s Swing Cats instructed dance lessons.

James Gaudino, Central’s president, said libraries are going through a huge transition and need to be celebrated.

“One of the joys of a library for me is to explore and discover,” Gaudino said. “Brooks is the town square of knowledge, and tonight we are finally starting to share it with our community.”

Michele Reilly, associate dean of libraries, said that her vision of the event was to represent the library as a place of community and a place for everyone to feel welcome.

“Tonight is a celebration of all our hard work, the library’s resources, and our collaboration with the campus and community,” Reilly said. “Spring time is the perfect time to celebrate.”

The gala was a collaboration between the library and the Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce, as well as Central’s Wildcat Shop. The goal was to increase awareness about the services that the library offers to the community.

“It was amazing to have the opportunity to connect with town businesses and create new partnerships,” Patricia Cutright, dean of Central library services, said. “I hope the community recognizes us as a resource.”

The focus of the fundraiser is to improve library resources and upgrade technology at Brooks.

“A university library needs to be creative when competing for [state] dollars along with everyone else,” Cutright said. “It started out with a small party to expose local talents, then we saw potential to fundraise and build relationships.”

In a time where technology is becoming a necessity, and new technologies are always developing, it is becoming essential that libraries follow suit and enter the digital age.

Stephen Hussman, library department chair, said that libraries are evolving in the 21st century and he can see the transitions the library is making.

“I am a true believer in this library, and it has been gratifying to see people’s interest in our success,” Hussman said. “We loved watching our community come together and work towards a common good.”