Lindsborg Library Completes First Phase of Major Renovation Project
LINDSBORG, Kan. — The Lindsborg Community Library has completed the first phase of a major renovation project that opened up the front entrance, created a dedicated space for the used bookstore, added small focus rooms for studying, and updated the facility's front lighting.
The work was supported in part by a $183,000 legacy grant from the David J. Nutt Fund, administered by the McPherson County Community Foundation. The grant, awarded in April 2024, provided funding to transform the library's main entrance into a unified library space with access to the expansion at 109 S. Main.
The David J. Nutt Fund has become a transformative force in Lindsborg since its establishment. The fund was created from a $7.4 million endowment gift to the McPherson County Community Foundation as part of a larger $15 million bequest to Lindsborg organizations from the estate of David J. Nutt, a former resident who credited the community with shaping his life.
Nutt grew up in Lindsborg before World War II and moved to other communities after returning from military service. Though he never directly benefited from the Lindsborg Community Library in his youth, as the library wasn't formed until 1960, he designated $100,000 to the library "to celebrate the benefits a good library bring to the community."
The renovation represents a significant investment in the community's educational infrastructure. Construction work was scheduled to be completed by the end of July 2025, with library officials planning volunteer opportunities to help reset the facility and prepare for a celebration milestone.
Recent Grant Activity
The library renovation is part of ongoing grant activity from the foundation. In June 2025, the Lindsborg Community Library received an additional $17,000 grant for Heritage Room Furnishings to add bookshelves for displaying special book collections on local history and heritage, plus tables and chairs for research, classes and meetings.
Since 2018, the David J. Nutt Fund has awarded more than $2 million through regular and legacy grant cycles to Lindsborg community organizations, with the capacity to distribute approximately $450,000 annually.
The fund's Grant Committee, composed of Lindsborg residents, bases decisions on Nutt's vision to nurture the development and progress of the entire Lindsborg community through educational enrichment, quality health and wellness, and community economic development.
The McPherson County Community Foundation manages multiple grant programs beyond the David J. Nutt Fund, supporting organizations throughout McPherson County in areas including arts, basic human needs, children and youth programs, community development, education, elderly services, and health care.
A video with more information about the grant and renovation project is available on the foundation's website.