T.B. Scott Free Library launches naming rights campaign

The T.B. Scott Free Library is offering community members, businesses, and philanthropic organizations the opportunity to name a new activity and meeting room through its “Name That Room” fundraising campaign.
The library, which has served Merrill since 1891, is seeking proposals of at least $25,000 for naming rights to the new space. The campaign runs through Oct. 31, 2025, and the selected name will be displayed at the entrance of the room, which was created as part of the recent renovation of the Youth Services Department.
The project began in February 2025 when JAS Construction was awarded the work through the City’s project-bidding process. The roughly $200,000 cost was fully covered by the T.B. Scott Free Library Endowment Fund, which is managed by the Library Board of Trustees for special projects or catastrophic losses.
The creation of the new activity and meeting room resulted from a space-needs study completed in 2024 by MSR Design of Minneapolis.
“The library administration team and Board of Trustees recognized the need for an additional activity/meeting room space,” Library Director Laurie Ollhoff said. “The Space-Needs Study, along with input from others over the years, made the decision to fund this special project rather clear. The library is a beautiful space, and having the ability to make it more accessible to others in the community as a place to allow for more hands-on library programming opportunities, to hold meetings for small and at-home business owners, and to provide a gathering space for non-profits, was a win-win for everyone, as this library is a community center and a gem of this community.”

Since the T.B. Scott Free Library Endowment Fund consists of multiple contributors, library officials determined that a fundraiser would benefit the community by assisting with future programming and projects.
All large meeting spaces in the library currently carry recognition names related to donors who made substantial donations when the 2001 three-story addition was completed. The naming rights campaign continues that framework while supporting the sustainability of the library.
If equivalent monetary proposals are submitted, the Library Board of Trustees will randomly select the winning proposal through a sealed envelope drawing. If one top donation is received, the campaign ends with that donation. Donors who are not selected will have the opportunity to contribute in whatever amount they wish.
The Board reserves the right to exclude proposals that do not align with the library’s mission statement and strategic plan.
If no donation is received by the Oct. 31 deadline, the room will be named the Youth Services Activity/Meeting Room.
The library was named after T.B. Scott, a lumber baron who served as Merrill’s first mayor. The institution has seen continued growth through support from community members and businesses over its 134-year history.
Sealed proposals should be submitted to the T.B. Scott Free Library Board of Trustees, c/o Michael Geisler, President, 106 W. 1st Street, Merrill, WI 54452.