James P. Thorne Charitable Endowment - North Logan Library
The purpose of the James P. Thorne Charitable Endowment is to provide economic support to the North Logan Library. These funds are to help pay off the bonds put in place for construction, as well as fund new and innovative programs to draw everyone from the community to the library.
As the bonds are paid off, it is envisioned that these funds will help the library and city grow. The first donation of $60,000 has now grown to an annual donation of $200,000.
A Library for All Children
In 2001, Hyde Park and North Logan agreed to build a joint library located in North Logan. Bonds were issued and the construction phase began. The agreement stated that North Logan was responsible for 75% of the bonds, and Hyde Park would cover the additional 25%. Once construction was completed, Hyde Park gave notice to North Logan that they couldn’t afford to pay the 25% that was agreed upon. North Logan was disappointed and decreed that Hyde Park residents and kids would not be allowed to use the library.
One morning Dell Loy Hansen, a current North Logan resident, was reading the newspaper on his back patio. After reading the article about North Logan’s funding problem and the restrictions placed on Hyde Park residents, he wondered if his kids would be able to use the library since they spent some of their time living in Hyde Park with their mother. He felt there was unnecessary segregation. Many elementary students from both Hyde Park and North Logan were mixed in the same classes at North Park and Greenville elementary schools. Dell Loy knew that an elementary-age child can’t discern the politics of a bond, but would wonder why some members of the class would be allowed to use the library, while others would not. He questioned the kind of message this was sending the kids.
After discussions with both North Logan and Hyde Park, Dell Loy created a challenge grant for Hyde Park residents. This challenge grant required Hyde Park to come up with $70,000 to be donated to the library by a certain date, which would allow their children to use the library. If an additional $10,000 were raised each year, all residents would be allowed full use of the library. Once these funds were raised, Dell Loy would then donate $1 million of real estate equity to help fund ongoing expenses. The income produced from this donation would be roughly $60,000 per year. There were many dedicated citizens of Hyde Park who spent countless hours working on this endeavor. As the due date drew near, Hyde Park was just short of raising the full amount for the library. A decision was made that some donated artwork could be valued and counted as part of the original donation. This artwork hangs in the library today. Hyde Park fulfilled its requirements, and all residents have had the privilege of using the library over the past decade. Hyde Park continues to raise money for the $10,000 per year agreement; however, Dell Loy has graciously offered to step in and make up any deficit as it arises.
This was the genesis of what came to be the James P. Thorne Charitable Endowment. Lynnette Thorne, Dell Loy’s former wife, had a deep love for her father, James Thorne. James was legally blind his whole life, yet he had a passion and love for reading and libraries. As a young girl, Lynnette would take her father to the Logan Library and read to him. She would read anything from books to business journals. Reading became a special bond that Lynnette shared with her father. When the time came to put a name on the endowment, Dell Loy and Lynnette thought nothing would be more fitting than to honor James P. Thorne and his love of reading.
The endowment has now been in place for 23 years, with over $3.2 million donated. The North Logan Library has become one of the most successful libraries in the State, winning national awards for their achievements. This endowment funds new innovative ideas and programs, helps further the reach and impact the library has had on both youth and adults alike, and will allow the library to continue to be a place of inspiration and learning for all who attend.
The James P. Thorne Charitable Endowment has been able to touch the lives of both children and adults alike. Because of the funding from this foundation, the North Logan Library will continue to inspire and teach our children for generations to come.
“The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library.”
North Logan Library Facts
Physical Collection:
Total Owned: 54,390
Total Circulation per year: 93,948
Digital Collection Access:
Beehive Library: 257,258
Digital Circulation: 48,221
Visits to the Library: 79,365
Card Holders: 7,406
(about 400 are non-residents)
Programs: 310
Attendees: 13,000
News Article - Published in the Herald Journal
A Better Way To Get It Done
Pat Bohm Trostle
September 5, 2004
When the problem of Hyde Park’s contribution to the North Logan Library surfaced, Hansen kept thinking about the children who were attending Greenville Elementary School. Those from North Logan could check out books at the nearby library, but classmates from Hyde Park could not. The solution came in the form of a donation of Hansen’s stock in Wasatch Premier Communities, the umbrella organization under which Wasatch Property Management functions. The gift funded a memorial to the father of Lynette Hansen, Dell Loy’s wife: the James P. Thorne Charitable Endowment. Hansen said that Jim Thorne, though blind, loved books, so a gift to promote literacy by funding the North Logan Library seemed fitting. The endowment produced about 60,000 a year, and with approximately the same amount from Hyde Park, library privileges for the town’s adults and children became a reality. “Now everybody goes to the library,” Hansen said in a satisfied way. “The endgame is that we solved a community problem.”
Hansen sees Hyde Park’s budget constraints easing as its retail properties along Hwy. 91 are developed within the next 10 years. “This will buffer them for 10 years,” he said. Or maybe longer, since the stock donation has increased in value and is now, he said, producing 90,000 a year in income.
Wasatch Premier Communities includes not only Wasatch Property Management but 17 different “venture companies,” as Hansen describes the charitable foundations that write philanthropic dreams into reality. Joel Larson, the chief financial officer, emphasized that the foundations are funded only from Hansen’s shares in WPM, not general shareholders’ stock. Asked whether it would be fair to say that his interests focus on education and sports, Hansen corrected, “We specialize in unfulfilled needs.”
“Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation.”
The Foundation is run by a Board of Trustees
2024 Board Members:
Lisa Wilcock
Amy Fadel
Clare Leishman
Barbara Middleton
Dell Loy Hansen
As of 2024, the foundation has an asset value of $6.9 million. Those assets earn over $200,000 per year.
Since inception of the foundation over $3.2 million has been given. Less than one half of a percent of foundation income is consumed by administrative expenses.
Annual Distributions Donated
A Place of Community
The North Logan Library is constantly hosting events from story time with kids, adult game nights, Harry Potter parties, and much more! Anything that will bring the community together and share the importance of the library.
“I have now had the pleasure of working at the North Logan City Library for close to 3 years. During my time at the library I have been able to see the contribution of the James P Thorne Charitable Foundation and the impact it has had on our library community. We have been able to do some incredible programs for the community all because of this. I want to extend my thank you to the Foundation that makes all of this possible.”
Summer Reading Kickoff Party
Every year the North Logan Library kicks off summer with a bang! The annual summer reading kickoff party has been a huge success, with community involvement bringing everyone closer together. Guests don’t have to be a resident of North Logan or have a library card to come join the fun and receive prizes. Past events have included free Bounce Houses, free Snow Cones, Raffle Prizes, Entertainment, Food, and Author Signings.
Kids’ Reading Time, Bingo Nights, Adult Game Nights, Star Gazing Activity
Harry Potter Party, Frozen Party, “Tails & Scales” Reptile Show, Kids’ Craft Days
Solar Eclipse Activity, Star Wars Night, Teen Leadership Event, Summer Closing Social
Lego Club, Regency Tea Party, Literacy Family Night, Regency Dinner & Ball
Flights of Learning
The statue named Flights of Learning, by Bryce Pettit, stands in front of the North Logan Library. Dell Loy is particularly proud to work with Bryce. For two years, Dell Loy was his teacher’s Quorum advisor. During this time he got to know Bryce extremely well and now considers him a leader in his North Logan community. Bryce has progressed to become a remarkable artist.
Sponsoring the sculpture Flights of Learning was so appropriate, because such a great citizen of North Logan who progressed to become such a great artist, could be honored in his home community.
"Flights of Learning, dedicated to all the citizens of North Logan City, represents the importance of our Library to bring great knowledge to the minds of readers. A child’s life epitomizes learning and it is because of children that we as parents and members of the community shoulder the responsibility to better the world. The open book is the gateway to learning and the birds are knowledge that once released soar to heights that enrich and enlighten lives. The birds also represent the freedom and opportunity gained through learning. Each bird represents a different area of learning. The owl is symbolic of the sciences and mathematics; the falcon, history; the jay, literature; the meadowlark, music; the hummingbird, fantasy; and the tern, the arts. The Monument is a seven-foot high, life-sized sculpture creating a captivating scene that will draw young and old alike to the library setting." – Friends of the North Logan Library
“Flights of Learning Plaque:
“Flights of Learning” symbolizes the purpose and mission of a library. A child’s life epitomizes learning and children are the reason that we as parents and members of the community shoulder the responsibility to better the world. The opening book is the gateway to learning and the birds are knowledge that once released, soar to heights that enrich and enlighten lives. The birds also represent the freedom and opportunity gained through learning. Each bird depicted in the sculpture represents a different area of learning. The owl is symbolic of the sciences and mathematics; the falcon, history; the jay, literature; the meadowlark, music; the hummingbird, fantasy; and the tern, the arts.
Dedicated to the citizens of North Logan City by donations from children’s nickels and dimes, family donations, art organization grants, and endowment funds over a ten-year period, through the Friends of the Library organization. ~2009”
Friends of the North Logan City Library
“The Friends of the Library are citizens who value the service of the North Logan City Library and volunteer to help in various ways. Friends work closely with the library staff and Board of Trustees and are kept informed of the library’s plans, progress, and challenges by the Library director. Individually and collectively, Friends use their influence to assist the library in obtaining desired financial support from the community or institution by representing the library’s point of view to local government, academic leadership, legislators, and the media. Some events sponsored by the Friends to help raise funds include book sales, a 24th of July breakfast at Elkridge Park, golf tournaments, etc. The Friends group also maintains the Book Nook, a separate room within the library whereby patrons may purchase used books for all ages at very reasonable costs.”
The MakerSpace
“The MakerSpace is an environment that provides equipment and software that supports the creative endeavors, personal growth, and community development of North Logan Library patrons. By providing access to specialized software and equipment, ordinary people with passion and a little bit of know-how are creating works of tremendous quality and value.
“Family photographs that have long been stashed in shoe boxes now come to life as the images are scanned, shared, and used to create vibrant books and videos. Hours of audio cassettes and VHS tapes are converted into digital files. Teachers share their expertise through video and audio productions. Small business owners craft and customize their messages through graphics, books, and brochures. Artists revamp their sketches into digital masterpieces. The ordinary becomes extraordinary.”
In the MakerSpace they have been able to hold coding classes where they used Prenda coding teaching curriculum, 3D printing activities with the youth and adults, and monthly stem clubs that partner with Cache Makers.
The 25th Street Market
The Market was a developed idea to bring the community closer together through a farmers market. Locals were encouraged to bring homegrown produce or home-crafted items and share them with other members of the community. Although it is no longer in operation, it was a popular event with all ages.
Kindle Library
"A Kindle Library is a collection of E-books, audiobooks, and videos that share a genre or theme. The materials are loaded onto a set of Kindles that are available to check out just like a regular book or DVD. Each Kindle can hold hundreds of titles which allows us to develop some fun collections. So instead of checking out only the latest title in a series, you can have the whole series at your fingertips.
“As the collections grow we will add audiobooks, videos, and apps to augment your reading experience. The North Logan Library was awarded a $20,000 LSTA grant by the Utah State Library to build the Kindle Libraries. The Friends of the North Logan Library boosted the reach of the grant by adding an additional $8,000 to the project. The funding will make it possible to circulate 50+ Kindles and add approximately 30,000 titles by June 2014."
The Pillar of Awesomeness
“During Hundreds of hours reshelving books at the North Logan Library, the artist vividly imagined the objects between the covers in her hands. Now she has brought the colors of her imagination to life on the “Pillars of Awesomeness” by Sharilyn Shumway.
“Sharilyn Shumway has brought the imagination of a child to life on The Pillar of Awesomeness. There are over 75 literary and cultural objects to find on the pillar. The North Logan Library is honored to have such a talented artist make such a wonderful contribution to the library.”
A Legacy
The James P. Thorne Charitable Endowment has been able to touch the lives of both children and adults alike. Because of the funding from this foundation, the North Logan Library will continue to inspire and teach our children for generations to come.
