Director Counters Opposition

Director Ellen Dolan understands there is opposition to the library building project, but she wants to clear up some confusion surrounding the project.

"One of the biggest misconceptions is that if you vote no, then you can still build the library," she said. "If you vote no now, the grant money will not be available and the current library needs significant repairs upwards of $2 million for a new HVAC system and other repairs, that will probably not work with a library project in the future."

Responding to letters to the editor and information that she's heard in town about the library project, Dolan said she wanted to make sure residents had the correct information moving forward for the Oct. 18 special election vote on Tuesday.

Dolan said the library can also be built smaller, like the 33,000 s.f. library suggested by the opposition, but it will cost more money than the 42,000 s.f. proposal because the grant only covers libraries 40,000 s.f. or more.

"The Library Building Committee has committed to scaling back the project by 2,000 s.f., but if we go any lower, the town would have to foot the entire bill for the project," she said. "It doesn't make sense to build smaller and have it cost more to the town."

Right now, if the $18.47 million project is approved, $8.7 million would be paid through private donors and the state grant.

Another concern the opposition has brought up is the shelving density of the project. They have asked for the highest shelving in areas other than the children's room.

"This is already part of the plan," Dolan said. "All the teens and adult shelving is at the 7-foot height shelves. There are expensive sliding shelves that are available, but those are cost prohibitive—and library patrons are not allowed to use those, so that would mean more staff and eliminate the option of patrons to browse the collections."

Another concern that Dolan addresses is the new technology of e-books. Dolan said the proposed project takes into consideration the influx of e-books and the size of the collection has been reduced.

"E-books will not eliminate the need for actual books for at least 10 years," she said. "We worked closely with the state and they calculated how much of a collection we would need, and we asked if we could reduce the collection size as well, which they approved."

Dolan said that e-books can only be lent to one person at a time and some book publishers are not even allowing libraries to lend out e-books, so until those glitches get worked out, books will be around for awhile, Dolan added.

More concerns were raised about the actual project including building a three-story building on the current site. "This was actually part of the original proposed project 10 years ago, and we listened to the residents and they did not want that, so it was changed," she said. "Also the town zoning laws do not allow for a three-story building in this location."

The opposition also raised concerns that the basement would be filled with dirt. "The basement will house all the mechanical equipment needed to run the building," Dolan said. "That information is not necessary to put on the plans submitted to the state, but that is where it will be housed—and the ceiling height is too low to house any part of the collection."

One "luxury item" deemed by the opposition, Dolan says, is actually going to be a revenue source for the town.

"The cafe, which would have to be bid out to be run by an outside company, will generate money for the town—the proceeds do not go to the library, but the general fund," Dolan said. "And the project goes to the highest bidder, not the lowest bidder, so this is a bonus for the town."

Dolan also said this one the number one request by residents who took part in the survey the library did a few years ago at the beginning of this project.

Also, the proposed 150-seat meeting room, which is larger than the current one, will be located on the right side of the building near the cafe, making it possible to be rented out to groups, which will also generate funds for the town.

"Because they will be in the same area, the doors to the rest of the building can be locked and closed to the public, so we can rent out that space to groups that we normally have to turn away because the one meeting room in the current library is always in use," Dolan said. "There is also a separate children's program room, which will also free up the general meeting area, making it possible for more groups to meet at the library."

The location of the children's room to the second floor was very important to Dolan and the Library Board of Trustees. "It is important to keep the children away from the general traffic of the main floor, especially when it comes to the concern of pedophiles and predators," Dolan said. "Also, we are committed to all groups that come to the library and we wanted to make the new design accessible to seniors who frequent the library."

She said the convenience and ease of the circulation department being close to the main door makes sense for seniors and the traffic flow of the library. "We are also going to place benches as you walk in, so seniors can rest and will not have a long walk into the library," she added.

One item in the plans that may be removed by the Library Building Committee is the drive-up window. "This is a good idea, but if people want it removed, we can build the library with the idea having a project where you can add it later," Dolan said.

One other major concern is if the funding is actually guaranteed or assured to the town. "The state allocated $100 million a few years ago and the state has $68 million left to give to library projects," she said. "That money is already in a fund waiting to be given out. And State Sen. Michael Moore and State Rep. Matt Beaton have both researched the funding and said it is assured."

Dolan said this project is like the Ch. 90 money that towns use to build roads or funds set aside to build schools. "You don't wait to build a road until the money is in hand, you build the road and the money comes from the state when they say," she said.

If any residents have questions or concerns about the project, Dolan urges them to ask before the vote on Tuesday. "There is so much confusion and questioning and I want to give people the facts," she said.

The is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Monday through Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call Dolan at 508-842-0081.