Voters at Town Meeting on November 17th, 2009 defeated a motion to appropriate $20,000 to fund a feasibility and design study for a new library to be built on property leased from the Maplewood Cemetery on Maple Ave, Upton.
This vote effectively means that the Library Trustees can go no further in the process of planning a new library on the Cemetery site.
The Trustees will continue investigating other options, such as including library space in the renovation of Town Hall, or collaborating with the Selectmen as they consider the idea of purchasing and renovating the Holy Angels church building.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Q & A in regard to Special Town Meeting Article #11
Here are some Questions you may have about Article #11 on the Special Town Meeting warrant, scheduled for Nov 17th:
Q. What are the Library Trustees asking for today?
Q. Why do we need a new library facility?
Q. How was the current building site selected?
Q. Why not renovate a town-owned or low-cost building instead of new construction?
Q. What new services would an adequate facility allow?
Q. Why move forward with this proposal in the current turbulent economic climate?
Q. What might the library of 5 or 10 years in the future look like?
Monday, November 9, 2009
Here's the latest ...
Members of the Library Building Design Selection Committee, a sub-group of the Library Building Feasibility Committee, are meeting with Architects right now to narrow the choices, and will know by the end of this week the details to be presented at a Special Town Meeting to be held next week, Tuesday, Nov. 17th at Nipmuc HS. beginning at 7:30pm
PLEASE plan to attend that meeting to learn more!
PLEASE plan to attend that meeting to learn more!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Update on our two top priorities
Library facilities on Maplewood Cemetery land:
Both the Trustees of the Library and of Maplewood Cemetery are preparing to sign the letter of intent to lease the property. Once that document is signed, the feasiblity committee will have permission to do surveying work on the property to site a library building.
The committee is gathering information to make some preliminary cost estimates. Our rough estimates at this point indicate that a 10,000 square foot building should be possible for $2-3 million. We are working on making sure that number is closer to 2 million than 3 million. If we decide to commit to this option, the next significant step will be to hire an architect to bring all our ideas and work together into a site plan that would be suitable for presentation to the town.
Renovation of existing Town Hall
It is my understanding that the Selectmen are bringing a proposal to the Community Preservation Committee to fund a study and architectural plan to renovate the existing Town Hall building. If this funding is approved, the Selectmen will appoint a Town Hall feasiblity committee, which would be responsible for deciding exactly how the space in Town Hall is allocated. We hope the Selectmen will appoint one or more library representatives to this committee.
Both the Trustees of the Library and of Maplewood Cemetery are preparing to sign the letter of intent to lease the property. Once that document is signed, the feasiblity committee will have permission to do surveying work on the property to site a library building.
The committee is gathering information to make some preliminary cost estimates. Our rough estimates at this point indicate that a 10,000 square foot building should be possible for $2-3 million. We are working on making sure that number is closer to 2 million than 3 million. If we decide to commit to this option, the next significant step will be to hire an architect to bring all our ideas and work together into a site plan that would be suitable for presentation to the town.
Renovation of existing Town Hall
It is my understanding that the Selectmen are bringing a proposal to the Community Preservation Committee to fund a study and architectural plan to renovate the existing Town Hall building. If this funding is approved, the Selectmen will appoint a Town Hall feasiblity committee, which would be responsible for deciding exactly how the space in Town Hall is allocated. We hope the Selectmen will appoint one or more library representatives to this committee.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Why Not Combine Resources and Think Green??
Since the purpose of this blog is to share information and possibilities, and also to keep interested community members updated on what's happening at Feasibility Committee Meetings, I have been hoping for more input on this blog from members of the Committee. I want the facts and options to be shared so that we can all have a chance to comment about them and join together in sharing ideas, thus having a better chance of reaching a viable solution.
I am going out on a limb here by stating an "I heard ...." but my hope in doing this is to encourage the parties involved to come forward and join this discussion, and set the details straight. So, here goes:
Here's the suggestion, which personally I think makes all the sense in the world, but would LOVE to hear what the voting members of our community have to say:
My 'dream building' would encompass a new library, a new senior center and include office space for all of the departments currently housed in the Town Hall and Knowlton Risteen Building, two old, inefficient buildings that would cost ridiculous amounts of money to update. When I've spoken of this idea before I actually had someone say to me "What do you think this is, Arizona?" I don't even know what that MEANS?! Was this person implying that people in Upton aren't forward-thinking enough to even consider such a brilliant idea?? I think it's a no-brainer, but I want to know what YOU think!
Just last week, the library hosted a program called Our Renewable Nation which included viewing an interview with the head of a private school in Worcester which has recently built a wind turbine on its campus to become totally self-sufficient energy-wise. Why can't the Town of Upton do something similar? Save money and create the much-needed improvements for our community. To view this video, click here: Wind Over Worcester.
I am just posting this video as ONE of many possibilities .... but I think that in order to bring about the changes we need, all of us need to be thinking beyond individual department needs and looking at the bigger picture of the future of Upton.
I am going out on a limb here by stating an "I heard ...." but my hope in doing this is to encourage the parties involved to come forward and join this discussion, and set the details straight. So, here goes:
I heard.... that at the last Feasibility Committee meeting an idea was proposed, one that I have been talking about from day one, and was instantly shot down with the comment that 'the people of Upton would never go for that' and also that the person making the suggestion 'should maybe not even be on the committee if that is how that person really feels!'
Here's the suggestion, which personally I think makes all the sense in the world, but would LOVE to hear what the voting members of our community have to say:
"Why are we not considering having ALL Town Departments join together in creating one new, efficient GREEN building that would solve so many issues in town, including space and costs?"
My 'dream building' would encompass a new library, a new senior center and include office space for all of the departments currently housed in the Town Hall and Knowlton Risteen Building, two old, inefficient buildings that would cost ridiculous amounts of money to update. When I've spoken of this idea before I actually had someone say to me "What do you think this is, Arizona?" I don't even know what that MEANS?! Was this person implying that people in Upton aren't forward-thinking enough to even consider such a brilliant idea?? I think it's a no-brainer, but I want to know what YOU think!
Just last week, the library hosted a program called Our Renewable Nation which included viewing an interview with the head of a private school in Worcester which has recently built a wind turbine on its campus to become totally self-sufficient energy-wise. Why can't the Town of Upton do something similar? Save money and create the much-needed improvements for our community. To view this video, click here: Wind Over Worcester.
I am just posting this video as ONE of many possibilities .... but I think that in order to bring about the changes we need, all of us need to be thinking beyond individual department needs and looking at the bigger picture of the future of Upton.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Why consider a new library now?
Several people over the last week have asked me essentially the same question:
"Why are the trustees even considering a new library building in the current economic recession and strained municipal budget?"
The answer to this concern is that the trustees have no intention of asking the Town of Upton for significant capital funding in the next six months, the next year, or likely in the next several years.
What we want is to have a plan in place, a project that is "shovel ready" that could be started when funding does become a possibility.
The process to go from "we need a new library" to "here is a description of the project that could be presented to a Town Meeting" takes several years. Our previous grant application was started in 2004, and submitted in 2006.
Securing a building site and having a detailed floorplan with cost estimates are requirements for any grant applications, and for the Friends of the Library to start fundraising.
For a successful building project, we need to develop our plan now, and then be ready to take advantage of funding sources in the future. If we wait until funding is available before starting the plan, the opportunity will be lost.
"Why are the trustees even considering a new library building in the current economic recession and strained municipal budget?"
The answer to this concern is that the trustees have no intention of asking the Town of Upton for significant capital funding in the next six months, the next year, or likely in the next several years.
What we want is to have a plan in place, a project that is "shovel ready" that could be started when funding does become a possibility.
The process to go from "we need a new library" to "here is a description of the project that could be presented to a Town Meeting" takes several years. Our previous grant application was started in 2004, and submitted in 2006.
Securing a building site and having a detailed floorplan with cost estimates are requirements for any grant applications, and for the Friends of the Library to start fundraising.
For a successful building project, we need to develop our plan now, and then be ready to take advantage of funding sources in the future. If we wait until funding is available before starting the plan, the opportunity will be lost.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Donations can now be made online!
Starting in February 2009 you can now make donations online!
Go to the Library's catalog and look for the "Donate (NEW!)" link way up in the right-hand corner of the screen. Click, then choose UPTON TOWN LIBRARY from the drop-down menu. Enter any amount, along w/your credit card info, and the donation will be processed through C/WMARS. They will send a check to The Friends of the Upton Town Library!
THANKS!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Comments and more info about Steel Building
In response to the posting earlier this week about the Feasibility Committee's visit to a steel-frame constructed building in Hopedale, read these comments, by clicking here:
COMMENTS
I'd love to hear from other members of the Feasibility Committee about their thoughts on these plans!
COMMENTS
I'd love to hear from other members of the Feasibility Committee about their thoughts on these plans!
Monday, February 2, 2009
Feasbility Committee Tours Steel-Frame Building
This morning, the members of the feasibility committee went to Hopedale for a very informative tour of a steel-frame building.
The building we looked at was built by a private corporation for a printing and envelope stuffing operation. The structure was 11,600 square feet, with half furnished as offices, and the other half open workspace.
Committee members were impressed with the attractiveness of the outside, and I was pleasantly surprised by just how much space 10,000 square feet actually is, compared to the cramped area the library currently occupies.
The committee is actively gathering price estimates on library interior furnishings to provide a ballpark figure for total project cost.
The building we looked at was built by a private corporation for a printing and envelope stuffing operation. The structure was 11,600 square feet, with half furnished as offices, and the other half open workspace.
Committee members were impressed with the attractiveness of the outside, and I was pleasantly surprised by just how much space 10,000 square feet actually is, compared to the cramped area the library currently occupies.
The committee is actively gathering price estimates on library interior furnishings to provide a ballpark figure for total project cost.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Steel Frame building and progress on Maplewood Cemetery site
At our last Feasiblity Committee meeting, most of our discussion focused on the possibility of a new library facility built on land leased from Maplewood Cemetery.
The Library Trustees have opened negotiations with Maplewood Cemetery to lease approximately 5 acres of land for 99 years. Everyone seems to think the lease is a good idea, now it is a matter of working out the details into something that could be presented at a Town Meeting.
We also started discussing some specifics of the possible building. Right now we are considering a 10,000 square foot building. A rough floorplan indicates that 10,000 square feet would provide adequate library space, although we had to remove some features that were included in our previous plans; such as the local history room and large meeting space.
One intriguing idea is being considered, which would be to purchase a pre-engineered steel frame building. These buildings are sold by a company that comes to the site and erects a building shell on a concrete slab, and you then have your own contractors install all the interior walls, heating and plumbing systems and so on.
Steel frame buildings can offer some significant savings over custom designed buildings.
The next step is for the committee to get cost estimates for everything other than the building shell so we can evaluate what the savings would be.
Do you have any experience with or opinions about pre-engineered steel buildings? It is not typical for a library to choose this sort of construction, so if anyone has input, we'd love to hear it!
The Library Trustees have opened negotiations with Maplewood Cemetery to lease approximately 5 acres of land for 99 years. Everyone seems to think the lease is a good idea, now it is a matter of working out the details into something that could be presented at a Town Meeting.
We also started discussing some specifics of the possible building. Right now we are considering a 10,000 square foot building. A rough floorplan indicates that 10,000 square feet would provide adequate library space, although we had to remove some features that were included in our previous plans; such as the local history room and large meeting space.
One intriguing idea is being considered, which would be to purchase a pre-engineered steel frame building. These buildings are sold by a company that comes to the site and erects a building shell on a concrete slab, and you then have your own contractors install all the interior walls, heating and plumbing systems and so on.
Steel frame buildings can offer some significant savings over custom designed buildings.
The next step is for the committee to get cost estimates for everything other than the building shell so we can evaluate what the savings would be.
Do you have any experience with or opinions about pre-engineered steel buildings? It is not typical for a library to choose this sort of construction, so if anyone has input, we'd love to hear it!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Feasibility Committee Meeting Tonight
The Library Feasibility Committee will be holding an open public meeting tonight at the Fire Station, at 7pm.
I am hoping that members of the committee have read the comments posted on this blog and will take them into consideration in their planning. I do not know what is on the agenda for tonight's meeting, but will be interested to hear if any more has been discussed about the'Library-in-TownHall' proposal.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Interesting Article in today's Boston Globe ...
Happy New Year!
I just wanted to share this article from today's Boston Globe, that a couple people have already sent to me ... Check it out!
I just wanted to share this article from today's Boston Globe, that a couple people have already sent to me ... Check it out!
"As the economy sags, library use is booming. But will the services people want survive the budget cuts towns fear?"
Libraries have been changing for years, repositioning themselves to attract patrons in a digital age. In recent years, libraries have expanded their DVD collections, opened Internet cafes, attracted children with video game hours, and even used technology to let people download music and video.
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