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Library Considerations
The Library Exploratory Building Committee is studying whether to expand the current library or build a new one. The new Putnam Public Library sign with the logo and the "Read Learn Connect" sign were designed by Kelley Shaw Wade. She had told the library she wanted to do a logo project for the library. Linda Lemmon photo.
How shall
the library
grow?
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM --- The slide in the economy brought to the forefront, once again, the need for more space for the community at the Putnam Public Library.
"We've seen tremendous increase in use in the library in this economy," said Anne Lamondy, chair of the Library Board. The library can provide low-cost entertainment for familes, she said. And many are using the internet at the library to look for employment.
"We're seeing a resurgence as a community center," she added. Library officials have known for years that the library needs either a major expansion or a new building. But the support and budget never seemed to converge for that. "Selectmen have been extraordinarily supportive," she said.
The library was completed just a months before the Flood of 1955. It was expanded in the late 1970s, said Lamondy.
In December selectmen appointed a Library Exploration Building Committee. George Tsanjoures is chairman and said the committee is on track. The panel intends to whittle down to four architectural firms qualified for the project. After interviews of the four, one firm will be chosen and that firm will study whether expanding the current space or building a new library makes the most sense. One given would be that the new or expanded library is within walking distance from downtown. "The younger population especially seems to be walking in," he said.
Tsanjoures added the committee intends to hold meeting with the community to get input on that decision.
After study and recommendations, the committee must make a decision by June. At that point, the committee would send a letter of intent to the state for grant money. Using a distressed community fund, Putnam's project could qualify for as much as $500,000 of the $4 million the state has available. A final application must be in the state's hands by September.
Library Director Priscilla D. Colwell said $40,000 in the capital budget for this year is being used for this feasibility study.
She said the current building has 9,000 square feet on two levels. The community room in the lower level is not handicapped accessible. Putting community and library info into a library data base shows Putnam's library needs 15,500 square feet to serve its community. "We have an overriding need for a handicapped-accessible meeting room. We need quiet room, tutoring rooms, more community space," Colwell said. "Whether or not we need more space for collections, even with e-books programs, we need more people space," she added.
Louise Brodeur, treasurer of the Library Board, said, "We are committed to making the best possible decision based on facts from the exploratory committee."
"At the end of the day," said Tsanjoures, "it's not just a library. It's a community center."