Friday, December 26, 2008

Library in Town Hall??

I'm very interested in the comment that someone posted on the blog last night, referring to proposed Town Hall renovations.



Could someone with the facts about this proposal please post the details here? I think it would be very interesting and helpful, to make sure we're all aware of the possibilities.

Thank you all again for your support, and for taking the time to get involved and help educate our community!
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3 comments:

  1. MatthewDecember 29, 2008 at 10:22 AM

    Renovating the current Town Hall and using the space that is currently the Gym/Stage area for a library:

    1) A local architect volunteered his time and skills to create several conceptual plans for renovations of Town Hall. At the request of the Library Trustees, one of these possible plans included converting the gym and "little town hall" area into roughly 8,500 square feet of library space.

    2) The Board of Selectmen presented a request to the Community Preservation Committee to use CPA funds to pay for the design and development of construction documents. This request was for about $650,000 and would not have added to the tax rate. The version of the project that was presented to the CPC mentioned the library as one possible use of the renovated building, but did not assign any specific space or priority to the library. The CPC rejected this request, citing a need for more specific information.

    3) The next steps for this project to proceed are in the hands of the Selectmen. They may either a) stop working on the project entirely; b) appoint a building feasibility committee to develop more specific plans; c) present a revised request to the CPC.

    The library Board of Trustees is still interested in pursuing the possibility of renovating part of Town Hall into library space, but until the Selectmen decide to take the next step, there is little for the Trustees to do.

    If library supporters would like to help push the Town Hall renovation idea along, they should contact the Board of Selectmen by any means (personal contact, email, letter) and indicate that they would like to see specific plans for Town Hall renovation, and request that library space be included and that library representatives be appointed to any Town Hall feasibility committee that is formed.

    -Matthew Bachtold, Library Director

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  2. AnonymousDecember 29, 2008 at 8:14 PM

    Hi Lisa and Matthew,

    Linda White, Trustee, here, commenting: Well, let’s face it, the economy is terrible. The chance of us getting the vote to BUILD a new library is probably not too likely. Even though Upton is a community with a high per capita income, the latest figures reporting unemployment are high for Upton! Our family has certainly been affected by this terrible recession. We used to go to the bookstore and spend, but we have been cutting a lot of our discretionary spending for the last couple of years. We are relying upon the town library for books and services, and I can say we have not been disappointed. What I am most concerned about is our CW/Mars book borrowing. That is, requesting and receiving books here in Upton from other libraries throughout the state. If we were to lose this, many would suffer in our town. (Of course, if the majority of the town is unaware of this service, how can they avail themselves or even vote in favor of the library?) If we don’t offer the younger children programs: story time, summer reading program, etc., etc., etc., (you do so much!), our children will suffer. The elderly will suffer as they are a big part of our patronage.

    Horace Mann said that education is the great equalizer. Libraries are a huge arm of that philosophy! The Trustees have been working extremely hard since we lost our regional library vote with Mendon to find a way to build a new library. We have been so very disappointed, as many patrons have, with the loss of the Maple Street location. Perhaps now we should look to existing space within the town—perhaps the Town Hall is the solution . . .

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  3. *Lisa*December 29, 2008 at 10:30 PM

    Thanks for the comments, Linda! You brought up a great point ... when economic times are tough, library usage goes UP! That's why I love the quote "Libraries will get us through times of no money better than money will get us through times of no Libraries!"
    It is SO true!
    Also, please see my latest post, which includes a Library Use Value Calculator!

    thanks again!
    see you soon,
    Lisa
    :)

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