Greenwich Free Library Newsletter
May
Are We There Yet?
Over the last three years we have:
- completely updated our heating and air conditioning system
- waterproofed and insulated the basement
- shored up a section of brick facade that was falling away from the building
- replaced single pane wooden windows with energy efficient ones
- made all our entrances accessible
- repaved the parking lot
- created a covered outdoor seating area in what was trash storage
- enclosed our outdoor stairway, air conditioning units and trash cans
All of this while maintaining a monthly average door count of close to 5,000.
Our current project will allow us to greatly expand the IVH Gill Local History Archive services and programming, create two new spaces for meetings/classes/tutors/Skype and conference calls, add a seating and display area and give us a real storage room. Right now, the walls are framed and the sheetrock is stacked up and waiting. We are on schedule to complete this transformation by the end of May. Things are getting exciting!
So, does this mean we're nearly done building? Nope, not nearly. Even as we watch this renovation progress, we are planning for the next one. Some time in 2020, we will start work on a re-imagined main floor that will give us a teen/tween area, a quiet space (really!), a new children's room, computers distributed rather than clumped . . . and more.
Why are we doing all this? We are doing it because Greenwich deserves a good library. A good library changes with the times and responds to community needs. A good library is comfortable, welcoming and user-friendly. Having the right spaces, well-maintained is an important part of that.
How are we paying for all this? We are paying for it with a combination of grant money and private donations. Both the State of New York (Thanks Betty and Carrie!) and the greater Greenwich community have been and continue to be staunch supporters of the library and all we do. Some of your neighbors have taken their support to the next level and invested in this community resource. Local tax money goes exclusively to operations and has not been used for construction.
The journey continues and, while it may be bumpy at times, we invite you to come along as we continue the Greenwich Free Library's tradition of being a library you can be proud of.
-Annie