The Shrewsbury Public Library has reached a crossroads. As the intellectual heart of our community, the library has been a vibrant resource for the people of Shrewsbury. Its success, however, has resulted in a serious dilemma that must now be addressed.
The current facility is inadequate in size and resources. After examining how to respond to this need for over 12 years, the Board of Trustees know major repairs will cost approximately $6.4 million. The building is not fully handicapped accessible, and any renovations will require the building to meet all ADA codes, resulting in smaller public spaces.
A $7.96 Million state grant and significant private funding will cover 53% of the renovation costs. This grant is specifically awarded for this project only and cannot be used for a different plan or a smaller library.
The size of the library project has been reduced from the original proposal resulting in a conservative facility that will meet the needs of our town for decades. The smaller design takes into account electronic media such as E-books and reduces the size of areas designated for collections.
To accept the grant monies and make our new library a reality, voters must approve a temporary debt exclusion in a special town election. Moving forward with the project allows us to take advantage of a favorable bidding environment which could reduce the overall cost. The Library Board of Trustees urges you to vote YES for our library on October 18th.
Sincerely,
Laurie Hogan, Chair Kevin McKenna Carl Larsen
Joan Barry, Vice-Chair Beth Casavant Frances Whitney
Nancy Gilbert, Secretary Frank Stille Jack Avis
