Two anonymous donations of $20,000 each led Armidale Dumaresq Cr Jim Maher to make the request at Monday’s Council meeting.

“The war memorial library is the only existing one in the country,” Cr Maher said.

“Few people realise that when it was built in the 1940s, nearly half its cost then was raised by the public.”

The Civic Precinct Trust Fund has raised more than $110,000 towards the new library, scheduled to cost nearly $9 million, and a performing arts centre, which could cost $20 million. Cr Maher said the family of the late conservationist Joan Boyd had also called for funeral attendees to donate money to the fund in lieu of flowers.

“It was never intended that the community should raise all the money towards the new library and civic precinct, however, we have to show we support the build to attract government funding,” Cr Maher said.

People who were yet to make their will should consider bequeathing a  part of their estate to the fund in a community minded gesture.

The committee is also organising a Day on the Gravel, to be held on October 19 in Cinders Lane, site for the proposed civic precinct, to raise funds and awareness.