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An Anniversary and Dreams in an Era of Doubt
By howard | July 15, 2009
a guest post by Kathy Ryan.
Although a library can rise above the environment it inhabits, it must be conscious of that environment nonetheless, as we all must be conscious of our environment and the need to protect it from ourselves in the interest of our own survival. Kathy has been working on planning a new library for Tiverton with the consciousness of an environmentalist. I asked her to share some of her experience and thoughts with us; her response follows. –hb:
Public Library Service was begun in Tiverton in 1820 with Union Library, the second oldest in Newport County. The Town maintained up to four buildings in the main villages of town. The current main building, the Essex, saw groundbreaking in May of 1939 during the Great Depression. Its books were cataloged as part of a WPA project.
Today, Union is designated a reading room and library services are coordinated through Essex.The current buildings are not compliant with State and Federal standards. Current location makes expansion impossible. Building Committees have worked since the mid-1980’s to address the need for a new structure for a growing community of over 15,000. In fall of 2007, we signed on a property in [appropriately named!] Bliss Corners–at the geographic center of Tiverton. Also, in 2007, four of the library community had an opportunity to attend and be the subject of a workshop at the Library Journal Design Institute: Going Green, held in Chicago. It was an incredible, serendipitous experience–hugely invigorating, and can be found at the Library Journal website.
On June 19, 2008, the Tiverton Library Building Foundation was awarded a $5,000 grant by the Newport County Fund of the RI Foundation. This grant was to provide energy modeling, life-cycle analysis, and funding opportunities available for constructing a new, green, resource-efficient library building.
The future library building will have a great impact on the Town, from its full service as a library for all the citizens of Tiverton, to its place as a partner in the economic development of Bliss Four Corners.
Architect Steven L. Hughes, AIA, LEED, of the Robinson Green Beretta Corp. in Providence, presented the Report to the public on February 18, to very positive reviews in a packed hall at Judson St. The conclusion was that building a “green” library is cost efficient, compared to a conventional building, especially when commissioned.
· Heat and energy costs according to the energy modeling would be lowered from $5.50 SF in the current 2,800 SF building to $2.00 SF in the new 31,500 SF building. [The project is included in the federal economic stimulus-funding request.]
· A green library will be a model for smart municipal project design.
· It will include critically needed meeting space, display space for artists, as well as programming, workspace, and public restrooms that are impossible in the existing building.
· The water saving technologies will help avoid potential negative impact on the Westport River Watershed and keep an estimated 127,500 gal / year of drinking water from being wasted.
· Construction waste will be recycled, saving cost and materials.
· Maintenance costs will be factored into material and system selections as part of preliminary planning.
· Healthy building construction without volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), using natural light and improved ventilation, will help to improve working conditions and create a pleasant, healthy environment.
· Sustainable site development techniques will preserve greenspace and minimize runoff into groundwater from parking.
· The proposed one story building will provide easy access for elderly, those with handicaps, and young children to resources and programming that are currently unavailable.
· The proximity to recreation, fire/rescue services, an art colony, retail, homes, the closeness of elementary/middle/high schools will effectively create a mini town-center.
The PowerPoint presentation and Narrative Report are available for all at www.tivertonlibrary.org. The Narrative includes the report by Conserve by Design on potential “green” funding sources.
In Oct. 2008, a second grant was received from the RI Foundation for Strategic Planning. It will provide concept drawings and allow us to begin a Capital Campaign. Additional grant applications are underway.
In February, through the efforts of Senator Reed, the Library was awarded a federal appropriation appropriation of $475,000 toward the project.
The Four Corners Merchants held a holiday fundraiser toward the new building. Meetinghouse Realty saw that and began another. Pennies and Pell Bridge tokens are pledged.
When this building is done–a shining, sustainable, response to community need– it will have been built by more than 15,000 pairs of hands!
Our thanks to all who worked to bring the project to this step, to those who packed the hall at Judson St. on a cold snowy night to hear the report, and to the RI Foundation, whose vision and funding enabled the study to happen.
Kathryn E. Ryan
Chair, Tiverton Library Building Committee
President, Friends of Tiverton Libraries
Topics: General |
July 27th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Since this post was written, the Tiverton Library has received additional funding toward a fiscal feasibility study from the Newport County Fund of the RI Foundation and we are close to having concept drawings, with public input. Having both pieces will help the Library plan and begin a Capital Campaign.