BREMERTON – With help from Debbie and Wayne Macomber, the Kitsap Regional Library Foundation is closer to their fundraising goal for the replacement of the aging library in Silverdale.

KRL declined to specify the exact amount donated, but said the gift brings their total amount raised to $1.5 million.

The Macomber’s gift was inspired by Debbie’s connection to libraries on both sides of the Cascades.

“As a child in Yakima, and later an aspiring author, I spent countless hours at my local library. Our family is pleased to partner with Kitsap Regional Library to help them achieve a state-of-the-art facility in Silverdale. Everyone in Kitsap County will be able to use this library to pursue their own dreams as I did mine,” Debbie said. She is a No. 1 New York Times best-selling author, and a Port Orchard resident since 1986.

“With this gift from the Macombers, the new Central Kitsap library has generated major support from South Kitsap, North Kitsap and Bainbridge Island,” said Jaime Forsyth, KRL Foundation’s executive director.

“It’s a true testament to the importance of this project that it has drawn support from such a wide area. I’ve heard from donors who have seen how a new library can transform a community and they look forward to seeing that happen in Silverdale.”

The land for the future library, located at the corner of NW Bucklin Hill and Blaine Avenue, was purchased in November 2015. The site is currently being rented as a staging area for the Bucklin Hill bridge project. The Foundation must raise $7 million for the new library and hopes to reach $2.5 million in the next three months to move the project into the design phase.

“We feel like we’re gaining ground on multiple fronts, whether it’s the individuals stepping up to support this important community project or our conversations with elected officials,” said Jill Jean, KRL director. “We are hearing that the time is now to bring a new library to Silverdale.”

The current library in Silverdale began as a modified 16-by-16 Army surplus building in 1945 and has not been expanded since 1980. Since that time, the demands on the little library have increased dramatically. With only 5,000 square feet and 14 parking spots, the Silverdale location is still one of the busiest libraries in Kitsap. To learn more about this project, visit KRL.org/newlibrary or call the KRL Foundation at 360-475-9179.

KRL maintains nine locations, a bookmobile, an outreach staff and a virtual library at KRL.org to meet the needs of the more than 254,000 area residents.