EXPANSION UPDATE, February 21, 2008

At their February 7 meeting, the Avon Town Council backed a committee recommendation to appoint Tuthill and Wells Architects, an Avon architecture firm, to design the initial phase of the long-anticipated library expansion. 21 proposals were reviewed by the Avon Free Public Library Renovations and Additions Committee.  Based on the highest score in a rating system used by the committee, the Committee chose Tuthill and Wells Architects.  The firm was founded in 1986 and has designed 47 public libraries in 15 years.  Most recently, the firm is responsible for libraries in Bristol, Plainville, Southbury, Wallingford and West Hartford.  Still under construction is the Guilford Library.

Members of the building committee are:  Diane Hornaday, Chair, Scott Boos, Diane Carney, David Goldsholl, J. Tad Kuziak, Barbara Leonard, and Janet Stokesbury.  Also attending committee meetings are Blythe Robinson, Assistant to the Town Manager, and Virginia Vocelli, Library Director.

The town has grown significantly in the past quarter century.  So too has the demand for library services.  The library is very busy and very crowded whenever it is open.  In the past year alone, there has been a 3% increase in circulation.  We need a larger building, with more areas designated for books, computers and other materials, more space and seating for patrons of all ages, and more rooms for meetings, programs and collaborative study.  The library parking lot is also too small for current usage. 

An initial goal of the building committee is to have the design concept of the building and basic schematic plans completed in time to make the September lst deadline of the State Library Public Library Construction Grant Program.  Applicants may receive up to 1M grant funds should their application be successful.  Our project will then be brought before the Town in a referendum, the date of which is still to be determined. 


Mary LaBelle Suter, President

Avon Library Board of Directors

Background

The Town’s growth has created demand for library services and programs that exceeds the library’s capacity. 

In 2000, we began work on a Capital Improvement Plan to ensure that the library will meet the community’s needs through 2023.  We worked with a library building consultant and reviewed the Connecticut State Library’s “Library Space Planning Guidelines” to determine the library’s building needs based on our programs and services.  Priorities for the expanded space were established and remain critical. 

The expansion proposes to double the size of the Library.  The Town has supported the project by purchasing two adjacent properties and has placed it on the Capital Improvement Program Schedule.  While we wait for the go-ahead from the Town Council, we are continuing to do our best to maintain the materials collection, programs and services of the Library in spite of overcrowded conditions. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. With the Internet, do we really need to add to the Library?

While it is true that Avon residents are changing the way they use the Library, they continue to look to the Library as a community center.  They rely on the Library as its center for cultural and informational resources.  Enormous changes are taking place in libraries and the Avon Library continues to be a dynamic and progressive institution, evolving and changing with the times, addressing the needs of the citizens of Avon for materials, services and programs.   This expansion is part of that goal.

2.  Didn’t we just do this? (add to the Library)

Completion of a renovation in 1997 added 3,000 square feet of useable space for the Library and achieved several objectives: provision of quiet study areas for adults and children; addition of a dedicated children’s storytime room and computer lab; establishment of an electronic reference area; compliance with new ADA requirements; and upgraded work spaces for some staff.  A new color scheme with carpet, furnishings and paint was part of the renovation.  No action could be taken on collection space needs, additional seating, parking, and meeting space.           

3.  How much is this going to raise my taxes?

It is too early to know.  Now that the Town Council has approved the building committee’s recommendation for the architect, the next step is to develop plans based on the library building program. It is only then that we will have an idea of the cost.  The Council plans to time the scheduled capital improvement projects so that the effect on the debt service (and therefore, on your taxes) is lessened. The Town is applying for a State Construction Grant, whose maximum award is $1M; we are hopeful that the project will receive that grant, further lessening the impact on Avon residents. 

10 reasons why we need the expansion

Space for people

The Avon Library has 12.5 visits per capita. Current library standards recommend that libraries with visits per capita over .6 should provide more than minimum seating. On busy days, often our residents wander around looking for an empty chair.  Clearly we need more seating.  As we have accommodated the demand for library services such as computer workstations and the need for additional book shelves, we have had to eliminate seating.

Space for books

Our current book collection is 79,000, which exceeds our capacity by approximately 7,000 items. While we do not expect the book collection to grow at the same rate as it did in the first twenty years of occupation of this building, our shelving capacity maxed out four years ago.  Since 1998, display for non-book formats has been woefully inadequate.

Space for our youth

Presently we have 360 square feet to serve over 1,500 students in grades 6 through 9.  The Library can assist these young adults make the transition to adulthood by helping them develop the habit of lifelong learning, and by providing skills for information literacy and the space to study and work on collaborative projects.  The Library is a wonderful place to promote the healthy and positive development of our youth and we lack the space to accomplish this goal.

Space for children

To meet residents’ need for children’s services, the space for the children’s book collection, comfortable seating and storytimes must be doubled. Our children’s population is growing and additional space is needed to fulfill our strong commitment to our youngest library users.

Space for technology

We offer computer access to our library patrons now and the workstations are in high demand.  Patrons are often forced to wait for a computer.  More space would allow us to increase the accessibility of technology to our users.

Space for the Community

Meetings take place in the community room, the story hour room, the craft room and the history room and sometimes all rooms are in use simultaneously.  The space in the existing community room isn’t large enough for our popular programs and activities.  One quiet study room exists for adults and one for children and yet the number of requests from the public for more quiet areas continues to increase. 

Space for Avon’s History

This room is located on the second floor.  It is serviced several hours twice a week by volunteers from the Historical Society, but is located too far from the reference desk to be convenient to the library’s staff during the majority of hours that the library is open.  Although it serves multiple purposes as a meeting room, boardroom, and local history and genealogy room, it does not fulfill its role sufficiently because of its location.  The library addition should contain a room that can be serviced by the reference staff and additional volunteer hours.   Also, more space is needed to store the archives properly.

Space for parking

There are not enough parking spaces to accommodate patrons using the library today.  Overflow parking sends patrons across the street, which can be dangerous. The current number of spaces is 59.   The future need is 129.  In addition to library programs, the library hosts meetings by community groups and the town recreation department with attendance of five to fifty people.

The present book drop is not convenient for easy returns of materials because people have to get out of their cars and walk to it in all kinds of weather when the library is closed and they are in a hurry.  A new fire-proof book drop should be provided that is near the circulation workspace and can accommodate returns from a car window. It should be open 24/7. 

Space for staff and volunteers

The Library staff work areas are overcrowded.  Staff members need desk space in order to support all the activities for our patrons.  Department heads need office space for private meetings with staff and for more efficient task completion. Volunteers and Friends have two other very small cramped spaces in which to work.

Space for a True Community Resource

Our present and future needs cannot be met in the current building.  With the support of the Town and additional property which has been purchased, we have the opportunity to develop a Library facility that will provide the community with many resources for years to come.  Avon is a great town and deserves a great library that will meet all of its needs.  This building project is part of our commitment to providing that for you.