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Library Brochure (Adobe Acrobat Reader Required)

Library Trustees 2007 Annual Report

Town Meeting ~ March 2008

Meeting Minutes (Adobe Acrobat Reader Required)

Library Design Concept (Adobe Acrobat Reader Required)

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Following last year's Town Meeting, the Library Trustees assembled a new Building Committee with representatives designated by the Select Board (Steve Schneider) and Budget Committee (Shirley Green), as well as the chairman of the previous Facilities Commission (Dan Kiley). In an effort to explore different options for expanding and improving the library (currently measuring 3,248 sq. ft.), the Select Board approved the allocation of the remaining $3,162 from unexpended funds from previous facilities appropriations and the Trustees voted to use an additional $3,250 from its reserves. Moreover, the Byrne Foundation awarded a grant of $12,500 for the same purpose. These funds were used primarily to pay Sheerr, McCrystal, Palson Architecture of New London to assist the Building Committee in developing plans and assessing the suitability of various sites in and around the historic downtown district, including the area behind Whitney Hall and the Police Station. We were also helped by Leafie "Casey" Cantlin and Vanessa Stone, who generously offered their professional opinions about specific properties.

The Building Committee began by examining libraries in other, similar-sized communities throughout New Hampshire. It discovered that among eighteen different communities with a population between 3,982 and 5,851 (compared to Enfield's 4,857 residents), the median library size was 6,000 square feet. In addition, the median collection size was approximately 4.8 books and serials per square foot (compared to 8.7 for the Enfield Public Library). Based on these statistics and other data, including potential cost and fundraising ability, the Committee determined that a new library of about 7,400-7,600 square feet would meet most of our short- and long-term needs.

During the process of evaluating different sites, the Committee consulted with a number of local and regional agencies, including Enfield's Department of Public Works, Police Department, Capital Improvement Program, and School Board. We also met with the Select Board and Budget Committee several times to get their feedback and advice. After considering a number of options, the Committee ultimately decided that a site along the Mascoma River behind the current facility would be most appropriate.

In the meantime, with encouragement from the Library Trustees, a new organization called the Friends of Enfield Library (chaired by Phil Cronenwett) was formed to support the library's essential operations and programs. In the event that we were to attempt to construct a new building, the Friends would also assist us in raising funds from foundations, businesses, and individuals.

The warrant article to be proposed at the next Town Meeting is the result of extensive deliberations by a dedicated group of local residents who are committed to providing efficient, fully-accessible, and free resources and services to our community. We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who gave their time and offered advice during the early planning stages of this important civic project.

Respectfully Submitted,

Bart Thurber, Chairman
Judy Kmon, Treasurer
Francine Lozeau, Secretary

Article 6: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) from the 12/31/2007 unreserved fund balance, as follows:

Two hundred sixty-seven thousand dollars ($267,000) to be appropriated into a new capital reserve fund, named the Library Building Capital Reserve Fund, established under the provisions of RSA 35:1 for the purpose of planning, construction and furnishing of a new Library, and one hundred thirty-three thousand dollars ($133,000) to be appropriated for the purpose of preparing complete architectural and engineering plans for a new Library Building and site work. Pursuant to RSA 32:7 VI the appropriation of $133,000 shall not lapse until the project is completed or by December 31, 2013, whichever is sooner. (This article has no impact on the proposed 2008 Tax Rate.)

Special Warrant Article
The Board of Selectmen recommends this article.
The Budget Committee recommends this article.

R. Stewart made the motion to accept the article as printed, D. Crate seconded the motion. The Selectmen asked Bart Thurber, Library Trustee, and Lee Carrier, Budget Committee chairman, to speak to the article. B. Thurber explained that he was one of a large committee that had spent the past year working on this proposal, and thanked everyone for their time. He explained the costs involved, and stressed that construction could not begin until all the monies were raised. A survey had been conducted of other libraries in NH towns the size of Enfield, which found that our library is very efficient but only about half the size. The library needs more space. We need to commit now for the future. L. Carrier praised the Library Committee for addressing the Budget Committee's concerns, and stated the Budget Committee did support the article. There has been $1.5m cut from last year's proposal; this plan would allow the town offices to move into the present library space, and the auditorium would be preserved. The Town would only pay 20% of total cost, and there would be no tax increase because we would use monies from the undesignated funds. C. Aufiero mentioned that a lot of the costs of the town have doubled in recent years and questioned whether this was the time to do this with the state of the economy. It may not affect taxes now but will in the years to come.

S. Beaufait pointed out that we spent a lot of time last year discussing the space needs of the library and town offices, and commended the Library Trustees and the Budget Committee for all their time and research. She urged approval for the future of the Town. J. Gagne asked what the anticipated operating costs were compared to the present ones. B. Thurber replied that the closest comparable was the community building, which costs $15k. J. Patten made the motion to move the question,

B. Cusick seconded and it carried with a voice vote. D. Stewart presented a written request for a paper ballot vote. S. Carr said that she had never seen a building project put off that ended up costing less. D. Smith pointed out that the plan showed parking behind the Verizon/telephone building and asked if that land had been purchased. B. Thurber replied that the Town Manager had talked to Verizon last year about it but nothing was definite. A paper ballot vote was taken: Yes 117, No 45. Article 6 passed as printed.