Friday, October 29, 2010

Sherborn Selectmen are Pro-Library

On Thursday October 28, the Trustees presented the preliminary schematic designs to the Board of Selectmen that have been developed over the past several months using funds from a planning and design grant issued by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC.) The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to accept the Library’s warrant article for 2011 Town Meeting that would permit the Town to review and approve the designs at Town Meeting, prior to submission to the MBLC for a grant to offset the cost of construction. The Library will be presenting the plans to Town boards and the public in the months leading up to April 2011 Town Meeting.

“The Library began this process in 2003 when a subcommittee of Trustees conducted a building study to examine and record the current state of the facility and future space requirements using a 20-year planning window required by the MBLC,” reported Library Trustee Chairwoman, Stacey Brandon. “We toured new Library buildings in the area to evaluate their space and square footage allocated to services. We were able to confirm quickly that our children’s area would benefit from expansion and an improved floor plan that would provide space for children of all ages.” Ms. Brandon added that a Town-wide survey had been conducted and the results were factored into the Trustees’ planning. “Most respondents expressed that the children’s room integration with the adult reading area and the shared computer workstations often present a conflict, but Library patrons do not want to lose the distinct inter-generational feel of our Library. The Library is the living room of the community. In addition, since the Sherborn Library is essentially untouched since it was given to the Town, it has no access for patrons with disabilities and the systems are all 40 years old and in need of replacement."

"The Library’s heating, venting, and air conditioning systems will be replaced with energy efficient equipment and green alternatives. The glass skylights and windows are leaking and require replacement. The mechanical, electrical, fire, and emergency systems are obsolete which is now noted in all of the annual inspections. The entire facility and exterior access need to be brought into compliance with access standards so that persons with disabilities may use our facility and attend the Library’s programs. This includes the installation of an elevator and restrooms that accommodate the disabled. The children’s room is undersized and not well located, and the facility should offer additional technology. All of these deficiencies have been addressed in the designs you are reviewing tonight,” Ms. Brandon said.

Also present representing the Library was the appointed Library Design Study Committee. This Committee was organized by the Trustees to serve as an independent review committee to help develop the building program and participate in the preliminary design stage of the renovation.

Architects Peter Byerly and Richard Smith of Beacon Architectural Associates/Adams & Smith, presented the Selectmen with the Trustees’ and Library Design Study Committee’s “preferred design,” and described the four alternatives that Library officials considered before voting to develop a feasible design. “It was decided early in the process by the Trustees and Design Committee that the most efficient supervision of the public and the best service model was to keep the children’s room on the main floor,” said Mr. Smith. "The preferred design shows an expansion of space for children behind the Library on the Sanger Street side, enabling patrons to use the existing entrance and pass by the circulation desk into the new children’s wing or choose to use an alternative entrance directly to the new wing by access from the parking lot behind Town Hall.” The plans include a meeting room beneath the children’s area to seat an audience of approximately 125, and enables after hours use by community groups, which is required by the state for Library design standards.

“This configuration leaves much of the existing Library intact with the exception of updating systems and the stacks arrangement,” said Mr. Smith. “We recognize the community is very fond of the ambiance of the original facility.”

Architects Byerly and Smith pointed out that the one-story expansion features a glass breezeway connector between the original building and new children’s wing. This corridor would best accommodate an elevator for access to all three levels of the Library, and handicapped restroom. The entire Library would be made compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. “Citizens with disabilities are now unable to attend the Library’s programs or community meetings in our conference room and basement auditorium, nor are they able to access the public restrooms or mezzanine stacks” Chairwoman Brandon pointed out. “This is a hardship for some of our patrons and we are continually asked to make reasonable accommodations. The Library has long waited its turn after all other Town buildings were renovated to update the space and systems according to current code.”

In 2010, Town Meeting unanimously approved the Trustees’ warrant article for the necessary permissions to apply for, accept and expend a state grant that would pay up to 50% of the cost of construction and to accept the preliminary designs that were funded by the planning and design grant. “This project has not cost the Town any money, and you can see from tonight’s presentation how much we have accomplished with the $60,000 grant,” said Chairwoman Brandon.

The warrant article unanimously accepted last night by the Board of Selectmen for April 2011 Town Meeting is the next prerequisite to qualify Sherborn to apply for the state construction funding. “At the 2010 Town Meeting presentation, and at subsequent presentations to the Selectmen, we informed the community that we would be coming back in 2011 with the preliminary designs, and we would be asking for their vote to approve the preliminary designs.” The state requires that the Town vote to approve the designs prior to submission to the state. Based on that approval and a scoring system for each grant application, the Library will either be awarded the grant in July 2011 or placed on a waiting list. The Town is not required to vote a budget or allocate funds in 2011. “The ten library projects that will receive the MBLC approval for the first round of funding in 2011 will break ground sometime in 2013,” stated Sherborn’s Project Manager, John Sayre-Scibona of Design Technique.

Ms. Brandon pointed out that she had attended a construction grant workshop today with Library Director Elizabeth Johnston. “About 35 libraries submitted letters of intent to the state to apply for the grant,” Ms. Brandon said. “In July 2011, only 10 of these projects will be funded. It is very competitive, and the opportunity for the state to replenish the funds may take a few years. That is why it is important for Sherborn to get in line now. If we are fortunate to be one of the first 10 to be awarded state funds, Sherborn will be asked to accept the state grant in 2012 and fund a local share.” Ms. Brandon added, “we estimate the Town’s share may be $2.5 million prior to fundraising.”

The Selectmen responded favorably to helping the Library advance the project and offered to work with the Library officials to help position the Library strongly for state grant eligibility.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Library Designs

The Library Trustees, Library Design Study Committee, and architects Richard Smith & Peter Byerly are ready to exclaim in unison a big TAH-DAH. After many months of examining spatial relationships and translating the Library Building Program to square feet, the Trustees and LDSC agree we now have a design we are eager to display and discuss throughout the community.

Who is on our first stop? The Board of Selectmen.

When? Thursday, October 28, 2010 at 7:30 pm.

Where? Town Hall Selectmen's Meeting Room.

Please attend if you can spare the time, and have a look at what we hope the future will hold for the Sherborn Library.