1
Courtesy of Louis Karno and Company
The reference room of the Concord Public library.
|
The mayor's library task force is hosting a community open house on Tuesday, March 9, from 4-7 p.m. at the library. Residents will be able to learn about and give feedback on the following topics:
- Does Concord need a new library?
- What would a 21st century library offer to Concord?
- Where would the new library be?
- What would its benefits be to Concord?
- How could you get involved?
The task force has been hard at work since last January looking at the possibility of new library, where it would be and what sort of costs would be involved. After evaluating 20 sites, the task force identified a three-quarter acre section of Storrs Street that could be redeveloped for the new library. Task force chairwoman Jan McClure spoke about her committee's work on the Concord TV program "@ Your Library." She said the public forum is the last step before the task force presents a final report to city council.
The current library is 70 years old, and only 57 percent - about 19,000 square feet - of the space is usable, according to the city's assistant for special projects, Matt Walsh. The current standard for libraries is for 80 percent of the building to be usable space. Walsh added that the cost of renovating the current library is comparable to building a new library on a different site.
If you'd like to study up before you go to the open house, read the library's needs assessment report and view Concord TV's program at www.concordpubliclibrary.net (for links, click "Concord Public Library News Site" under "highlights."
Comments
Location of a new Concord Public Library
I don't recall ever hearing what the potential sites for the new library are other than the one in close proximity to Main St.. My vision of a library would be one located in a more bucolic setting ( or, at least, residential setting with trees and grass, sidewalks and bicycles ) close to a school or a city park.
The City and the School District already own land ( or properties ) or could negotiate a land swap with the State of NH that wouldn't take taxable properties off the tax rolls. It seems as though there hasn't been enough thinking "outside the box" on this, but rather a case of personal hubris on the part of staff members and their pet projects.
Post new comment