Hartig Drug contributes $5,000 toward library
Hartig Drug Owner and CEO Dick Hartig, and his wife Brenda, recently contributed $5,000 toward the Prairie du Chien Memorial Library capital campaign. (Submitted photo)
The Prairie du Chien Memorial Library capital campaign has grown again, thanks to a $5,000 donation from Hartig Drug.
“Hartig Drug has been a key member of the Prairie du Chien business community for many years,” Library Board President Linda Munson said. “Their generous donation exemplifies their corporation mission statement to be ‘active in community.’ We appreciate their contribution, along with the contributions of all of our corporate and individual contributors.”
Hartig Drug has been owned by the same family since its creation in 1904. The current owner and chief executive officer is Richard “Dick” J. Hartig, who along with his wife, Brenda, made the generous donation toward the library project. Dick Hartig owns the chain of community pharmacies in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. His practice also includes a home health care firm, a long-term care company and a pharmacy benefits consulting group. He is a former Weaver Medal of Honor recipient from Drake University. He has received numerous local and regional awards for volunteerism and philanthropy.
“Brenda and I are excited to support the ‘Ready, Set, Grow’ campaign for the Prairie du Chien Memorial Library on behalf of our company, Hartig Drug. Strong libraries support life-long learning opportunities for everyone in our community. The renovation plans look stunning!” said Dick Hartig.
The donation from Hartig Drug will be used to underwrite an art loan wall, which will be used for rotating exhibits and displays. The expanded library will be able to display art and cultural displays that have not been possible before. In addition, the library expansion and modernization project is aimed at bringing the facility into the 21st century with expanded areas for programming and books—as well as quiet reading areas, access to technology, and separation of staff work areas from public areas. The project will also allow the facility to be used outside normal library hours without library staff needing to be present. Technology upgrades will allow for online meetings and classes in a large conference room and smaller study rooms.
The campaign is seeking to raise $1.5 million. The entire library expansion project, estimated at $3 million, is targeted to start construction in the spring of 2017. Last year, the city announced the capital campaign to match a $1.5 million contribution to the project by the common council.
To provide additional information about the capital campaign, the library project, and how individuals and businesses may contribute to the fundraising efforts, a website was launched: www.prairieduchien.info/LibraryExpansion.html.
