Library trustees unveil $1.9M plan

Proposal adds 1,700 square feet, shuffles space


It’s a new year, a (somewhat) new library board of trustees and a new building renovation proposal.

Eschewing previous larger plans that greatly increased and/ or reorganized the existing configuration, the board unanimously approved a $1.9 million design at its meeting Tuesday night.

Architect Jack Evans walked the seven-member board through the scheme, repeatedly mentioning that it was meant to be user-friendly for Jamestowners.

“Let children be children; let young adults be young adults and allow adults to use the space,” he said of the layout that gives each age group a clear home to call their own. “It captures the essence of what a library should be.”

In the past two-plus years, the library’s building committee has discussed myriad iterations of the expansion, ranging from $2.4 million to $5.5 million with some of those proposals increasing the total space by 80 percent. In January 2018, the results of a feasibility study of 21 residents conducted by EAC of New England showed little interest in enlarging the building. The amount they were willing to donate totaled about $100,000, according to the study.

The new plan adds about 1,700 square feet to the existing 11,000-square-foot structure by building three additions onto the outside. The price tag is separate from the $1 million bond for renovations approved in the fall.

“It‘s more rearranging what’s going on inside the space,” Evans said.

Two of the new areas — both 562 square feet — will provide rooms for young adults and children, respectively, in the rear of the library on the North Road side. The other 588 square feet of new space would be built behind the existing Sydney Wright Museum room and be used for storage, a staff lounge and deliveries.

The Wright room would get skylights added to it and could be used as a flexible space for children’s programs in the day, homework after school and meetings at night, said librarian Donna Fogarty.

The adult section, including a glass-enclosed reading room, would be moved to the entrance side of the building where the current children’s room is located. Acoustical tile and a glass wall partitioning off the hallway entrance would make the room a quieter space than it currently is, Evans said.

Bookshelves of varying heights would be distributed throughout the new layout, adding space for about 25 percent more items, Evans said.

The basement also would be reconfigured to add storage space and an elevator to allow easier movement of books to the main floor.

“If you want to use that basement, we need the elevator,” said trustee Jen Cloud.

While remaining where they are, the bathrooms would be modernized.

One of the benefits of the new plan compared to previous versions is the building would not have to be closed during construction since the core is just being rearranged, Fogarty said.

“It’s nice to see that you’ve been able to maintain the character of the library,” said trustee Paul Housberg, who also chairs the board’s building committee.