Books & Mortar

Another Go

2011-09-23T13:19:00.003-04:00

The Library Trustees voted unanimously at their September 2011 meeting to do the necessary work required to revise our grant application and designs for resubmission to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) by their January 2012 deadline. The revised grant, if it meets the MBLC expectations, will place the Library on the waiting list for state construction funds that would cover 50% of the cost of renovating and expanding the Library.

We will learn in June or July of 2012 if our grant made the grade the second time around. Until then, we shall continue to prepare for construction and funding. The state funds are likely to become available to us beginning in 2015. Once our Library makes the waiting list for state funds, the Town has the option to wait until the funds become available to the Library from the state, or proceed to renovate and receive the funds as a state reimbursment.

Joining the Ranks

2011-07-15T12:32:00.004-04:00

On Thursday, July 14, Library Trustee Chairwoman Stacey Brandon and I attended the Mass. Board of Library Commissioners' (MBLC) meeting where they announced for the first time the cities and towns which will receive the construction grant awards.

The Sherborn Library did not receive an award in this grant round; rather, we have been asked to review and revise our grant application and designs to the MBLC by January 19, 2012. The independent review committee that scored our overall application found areas they would like us to modify in our plans. We do not yet know what they would like us to modify. However, we were contacted immediately by the MBLC building consultants to make a date with them and our architects to go over the suggested modifications. We are set to do this on July 26.

After we hear what the required changes are that will raise our overall score, we will discuss them locally to ensure they are feasible for Sherborn. We will make any changes that we are able to accomplish, and resubmit the application changes to the MBLC. The MBLC will then rank us on their list of libraries waiting for funding. There are 15 libraries currently on the waiting list. Our goal is to position our grant application to rank us fairly on the list of 15 libraries and reassure our eligibility for the potential $3 million grant award.

While the status is disappointing, it is not unusual for first-time applicants to have to do a bit of tweaking. The library projects on the waiting list will be funded and fulfilled in a future grant round, so while we have that stretch of time ahead of us, we will use that time to refine our plans as necessary, and continue to fund-raise. We want to be ready to move forward when our turn comes around.

HOW SWEET IT IS!

2011-04-26T23:16:00.002-04:00

CONGRATULATIONS, SHERBORN for you approval of the preliminary designs to renovate and expand the Library.

That was the loudest YES I ever heard!

Read all about us in The Boston Globe

2011-04-25T12:43:00.003-04:00

Thanks to the persistence of the Library's Community Relations Committee, The Boston Globe published a story about the Library renovation project in the April 24, 2011 Sunday Globe West edition. Here is the link to the story:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2011/04/24/sherborn_library_asks_residents_to_support_state_grant_for_design_study/

The print edition placed this prominently on the front page of Globe West. Word seems to have reached many through The Globe, as we are receiving many favorable comments and promises of yes votes.

Article 12 - Annual Town Meeting April 26, 2011

2011-03-29T12:27:00.004-04:00

The Sherborn Library Trustees will ask Sherborn voters to approve Article 12 at the April 26, 2011 Town Meeting "to see if the Town will vote to approve the preliminary design for the renovation and expansion of the Sherborn Library, contingent on the receipt of a state grant, or take any action related thereto." The Board of Selectmen voted 3 - 0 in favor of Article 12 and approved the preliminary designs to renovate and expand the Sherborn Library at their March 24 meeting, contingent on the receipt of a state grant that funds 50% of the cost. Further, the Board of Selectmen voted to hold a Special Town Meeting in the fall of 2011 in order to vote to accept or reject the state grant award, which will be announced by the state in July 2011. The Massachusetts Public Library Construction Regulations require that municipalities vote to accept the grant funds within 6 months of the award, as the local determination deadline allows the state to move on to other eligible libraries awaiting a grant. The Advisory Committee then followed suit at the Public Hearing and budget voting session on March 26, with 5 Advisory Committee members voting in favor of the article and 1 against. As the Article is not a request for funding from the Town, the Advisory Committee's approval supports the Library's completion of the grant application. The Article 12 vote of the preliminary designs completes the application requirements to become eligible for a potential award of $3 million from the state to renovate and expand the Library. Article 12 next goes to Town Meeting on April 26. The Trustees, Library Design Study Committee, and project architects will present the preliminary designs to Sherborn voters. There are 32 cities and towns in Massachusetts competing for this award which has been increased to 50% of the total project cost this year from 35% in order to provide more incentive for municipalities to advance their projects in difficult economic times. The funding the state currently has available to support construction projects will fulfill 10 of those 32 project requests. Eligible projects that do not make this grant round's top 10 will be placed on a ranked waiting list until additional funds become available from the state. It is not currently known when the state will have the opportunity to replenish the Public Library Construction funds for a future grant round. Should the Library receive the $3 million grant from the state in this grant round, the Selectmen, Advisory Committee, and Sherborn voters will be asked to re-state their positions for the Library's renovation and expansion at fall 2011 Special Town Meeting by approving the Town's share of $2.5 million. The Library's renovation and expansion project requests funding for the addition of a children's room with a lower level community meeting room for Library programs and Town activities, meets compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act including the installation of an elevator and handicapped restrooms, replaces the 40 year-old heating, venting, and air conditioning systems with more efficient equipment and green design, upgrades the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems to meet current building and energy code, upgrades technology for inclusion in the Minuteman Library Network, and makes capital repairs to the facility such as leaking skylights, glazing, and exterior masonry. On Monday, April 11 at 7:30 pm, the Library Trustees and Design Study Committee will hold their second open forum at the Library and invites the public to attend to view the designs and ask questions about the project to become fully informed for Town Meeting time.

1-11-11

2011-01-07T14:16:00.003-05:00

Save that date! It shouldn't be a difficult date to remember! On Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at 7:30 pm in the Police Station community room, the Library architects will present the latest refinements to the schematic design of the proposed renovation and expansion of the Library. We've had our show on the road for the last two months and we have been pleased with the community's response.

The deadline for the Library's grant submission to the state is January 27, 2011. The self-imposed deadline is today to allow room for preparations and the unexpected. How am I doing? This blog posting represents my coming up for air.

If you can't make 1-11-11, then bring the entire family to the Library for our winterfest on Sunday, January 30, 2011 from 2 - 4 pm. We are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Library's dedication to the Town and will have our designs on display. "Barn Babies" program, arts and crafts for children, as well as entertainment and socializing among adults will add to the fun of the afternoon. It may very well become your Number 1 event of the month.

Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho! It's Off to Advisory We Go . . .

2010-11-12T15:50:00.004-05:00

On Monday, November 15, 2010 at 7:30 pm, our "posse" (a term project manager John Sayre-Scibona uses to refer to the Library Committees) will take our building renovation presentation before the Advisory Committee and Capital Budget Committee at Sherborn Town Hall. Representatives from the Board of Trustees, Library Design Study Committee, one or two local officials, and Friends of the Library will be present. Architects Peter Byerly and Richard Smith of Beacon Architectural Associates/Adams & Smith will walk us through the preliminary schematics of the Library renovation and children's room expansion. This will be largely a repeat of our presentation to the Board of Selectmen, with perhaps a bit more discussion ensuing on the project costs, geared towards Sherborn's financial sharp-shooters.

If you missed our presentation to the Board of Selectmen, this is another chance to round up some facts.

We'll look for you there, as we continue along the happy trails . . .

Sherborn Selectmen are Pro-Library

2010-10-29T12:34:00.004-04:00

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.

Library Designs

2010-10-26T11:53:00.002-04:00

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.

All AYEs on the Library

2010-06-07T15:59:00.004-04:00

The AYEs were unanimous at Sherborn Annual Town Meeting on April 29, 2010, authorizing the Library to file the grant application with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) for construction funding. Fifty percent of the cost of renovating the Library may be awarded to Sherborn in a competitive grant round. The state's decision will be announced in July 2011; at that time, the MBLC will consider recommendations for funding eligible projects and votes on provisional grant awards or waiting list status.

At next April 2011 Town Meeting, Sherborn voters will have the opportunity to collectively review the Library's preliminary designs and cost estimates for updating the 40 year-old facility. Leading up to Town Meeting 2011, the Library Trustees, Friends of the Library, and Building Project Committees will work together to publicize the renovation and garner as much public participation as there is interest.

Should the Library be fortunate enough to secure the state grant funding in 2011, the Town will have the responsibility of voting to accept or refuse the award and meeting a local share of the expense. The remaining 50% of the project's cost after the state award is likely to be comprised of municipal dollars and private fund-raising proceeds.

The Friends of the Library have already made significant steps in earmarking funds for the renovation with the proceeds of their Harvest House Tours. The Library Trustees have carefully managed and grown the Library's endowment funds to be prepared to meet the associated expenses.

Many of us in Sherborn vividly remember a similar enabling vote cast in 1969, when the gift of a new Library was accepted at Town Meeting, generously funded by Richard and Mary B. Saltonstall of Farm Road's Charlescote Farm. At that time, the Dowse Memorial Library was a 55 year-old building and additions and renovations to that 1914 building had long been proposed. When Mr. and Mrs. Saltonstall chose to retire, they asked their neighbors what kind of lasting contribution they might make to the community as an expression of the happy 50 years they spent in Sherborn raising their children, farming, governing, socializing, and planning for the Town's future. I believe it was Alvin Tyson who replied "How about a new Library?" Yet it was the involvement and vision of the citizens, the many devoted volunteers, who subsequently designed this beautiful facility and made accommodations for burgeoning services that have indeed evolved over these four decades.

The effort was intergenerational and that result is evident in the gathering of ages that the space forms. The aesthetic is an indoor-outdoor quality that allows readers to enjoy the landscape and be warmed by a surrounding of natural light. Though it is time for the building to change, to be rearranged and enlarged, these are values that have not changed and we will bring these values forward with us.

Architect Selection

2010-04-08T12:05:00.004-04:00

A wise associate once told me that it is easy to make a decision by finding reasons to eliminate choices; that the greater challenge, leading to a stronger outcome, is to base a decision on examining the high points of all choices. The Sherborn Library Trustees and Design Study Committee recently put this theory to the test and it worked most favorably.

On Tuesday, April 6, the Trustees held a special meeting to select the architectural firm for our conceptual design study to renovate the facility, which is now 40 years old. The Trustees unanimously voted to work with Beacon Architectural Associates of Boston, pending the success of contract negotiations. By this vote, the Trustees concurred with the recommendation presented by the Library Design Study Committee.

This case lent itself to testing the decision theory, as it was rather difficult to go the other route of focusing on reasons to eliminate any of our choices. By default, we were faced with awesome talents, skills, and track records of the competing firms so we could only examine strong points and best match them to our assessment of the Library's site-specific needs and future projections.

No, it was not an easy decision to make and many fine attributes must be left behind. We have learned alot by our architect interviews and deliberations. Yet we have much more to learn from Beacon's architect, Richard Smith, as well as much to cultivate in Beacon by our expectations.

Meet and Greet

2010-03-15T18:36:00.005-04:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Library has invited the entire town to the interviews of the four estimable architectural firms which were the pick of the Trustees and Library Design Study Committee.

Join us at Town Hall on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 6:45 p.m. The interviews begin promptly at 7 p.m. It is likely to be a late night as each architect has been allotted about 20 minutes of presentation time and the Trustees and Design Study Committee about 15 minutes of questions and answers.

You may also opt to enjoy this event at home with friends and family, or curled up in your favorite reading chair, as the local public access station will be televising our meeting. You are likely to see a few familiar faces among the crowd, learn a few technicalities about library design, and be affected by a glimpse of the future potential of the Library.

Short List, Long Process

2010-02-25T15:19:00.004-05:00

On February 23, the Board of Trustees, Library Design Study Committee, Project Manager John Sayre-Scibona, and I hunkered down in the Police Station Conference Room to develop the short-list of architects to interview on March 16. There were 17 proposals from top notch firms that we resolved to narrow down to 4 finalists, and 13 people in the room had to reach an agreement. You will be happy to hear we never once had to call in a police officer to assist.

Three hours later, the Trustees voted to interview: Beacon Architectural Associates, Durland Van Voorhis Architects, Johnson Roberts Associates, and R.E. Dinneen Architects & Planners. All applicants have been notified of this determination and so I am free to spread the word.

We put in three hours of work after spending an average of 5 hours each in background preparation for the ranking session. The selection team made this task of reading and ranking their weekend R&R. Our project manager created a score chart based on the criteria specified in the request for qualifications package and the Trustees and Committee took the information home to try it. This tool made each of us focus equally on the proposals, as color, style, personality, and captivating pictures abounded.

I am satisfied that the process worked. All of us are eager to meet the people behind the proposals.

So now my Aedicule of Architects consists of four pillars.

Your Librarian,
Elizabeth

Aedicule of Architects

2010-02-05T12:39:00.003-05:00

We call a gathering of geese a gaggle, a flock of crows a murder, a flight of bees a swarm, a hatch of chicks a clutch, grazing cattle a herd, and family of cats a colony.

What shall we call a convention of architects? I suggest "aedicule of architects." This is how I will collectively refer to the 23 architects I hung out with yesterday. I knew they were coming to visit the Library, so I have been boning up on my archi-speak.

The 23 architects representing 22 firms toured the Library for the scheduled, voluntary walk-through our project manager arranged and distributed in the request for qualifications package. How I basked in their open admiration for this building. I think James Walker, the Library's original architect, would have blushed!

Library patrons and librarians know time spent in this building makes them feel good. But to have this analytically broken down for us by the doctors of design into the sum of clerestory, niches and cantilevers was the ultimate "AHAH!"

I now picture my aedicule of architects busily crafting proposals that will allow them to brandish their own brush-stroke on Jimmy's brilliant design.

Architects Rule (pun intended.)

Owner's Project Manager

2010-01-25T16:37:00.004-05:00

On December 1, 2009, the Library Trustees held a televised meeting at Town Hall to interview the finalists for the Owner's Project Manager position. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Trustees voted unanimously to proceed with the negotiations to hire Design Technique Inc. of Newburyport. DTI proved to have the most extensive public library experience with a strong background working with small towns, which was a factor in the Trustees' rating criteria.

DTI has prepared the request for qualifications for architectural services to be published in the Central Register on January 27. The Library Trustees' Scope of Work has been incorporated in the RFQ. The comprehensive building assessment document and technical summaries are in the process of being published on the Library's website located at Library.SherbornMa.org.

We are pleased to report this major advancement in the Library's planning to the community. We have made our 2010 grand entrance.

History of the Project

2009-11-02T12:41:00.000-05:00

The Sherborn Library is the living room of the community. The institution has served as one of the few remaining public gathering spaces for all generations to meet and find common interests or distinctions.

The Library was dedicated in 1971, a gift to the community from Richard and Mary B. Saltonstall who resided in Sherborn beginning in 1927, and who contributed to developing the Town's unique character for more than half a century. The high quality of the design and construction of the building placed it in the forefront of peer libraries in Massachusetts at the time; indeed, because of the community's fine stewardship of its preservation and maintenance, the building is still impressive.

The building is now almost 39 years old and renovations are necessary to update the space to meet the current level of standard services. The space allocated to children's services, space for media collections, and public access workstations are no longer adequate. The Library has not been updated to comply with current building code, including compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and safety and security systems. Also, the heating, venting, and air conditioning systems are original to the building and, clearly, more efficient systems are available today, including those that offer Green design benefits.

In July 2007, the Library received a $40,000 grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The grant was matched by $20,000 from the Richard Saltonstall Charitable Foundation for a total grant of $60,000 to complete a professional building assessment and design study for renovating the building. The grant and its provisions were accepted at Sherborn Annual Town Meeting 2007.

The Library Trustees, an elected board of nine, worked with me to complete the prerequisites for expending the state grant, which is now in the Town's accounts. The prerequisites included engaging the services of an independent Sherborn citizens' committee to review the Trustees' self-study on the state of the facility.

In April the Citizens' Review Committee met with the Trustees and provided their helpful insights to our work. By July, those insights were incorporated into the Library's self-study and the Building Assessment document was filed with the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) for their review. In August, we received a letter from the MBLC stating our work was accepted and that the Trustees had met all the prerequisites. We were given permission to proceed with hiring the project manager and architect who would manage the pre-design and schematics stage for updating the Library facility.

The Library Trustees are currently evaluating the nine eligible proposals from project managers and are arriving at the short list of semi-finalists. There is evidence that several firms have extensive experience working with public library facilities and are well-versed in current standards of library design.

We look forward to public presentations in the near future to describe the scope of our project. We are committed to following every avenue to the community to ensure that the character of our much-loved Library continues to reflect its people.

Best regards,
Elizabeth Johnston
Library Director