Buildng Project Update – January 2022
The building project at Pomfret Public Library is on track!
The Town of Pomfret was awarded a new construction grant from the CT State Library in 2023, reflecting updated budget projections. Additional funds were raised to match the grant and we now have all of the required approvals to put the project out to bid.
The Building Committee will work with the architectural firm of Silver Petrucelli + Associates of Hamden/New London to oversee the completion of the addition. Committee members are: Marc Archambault, Robert Paladino, Charles Weedon, Mary Wetherell, Ginger Lusa (Board of Trustees Chair), and Laurie Bell (Library Director).
Public libraries now provide services, resources and technology that didn’t exist when Pomfret Public Library was built! Lending books is still our stock-in-trade, but there is a new emphasis on group learning experiences, creativity, and community events that necessitates meeting room spaces, technology, equipment and furnishings.
The planned addition to Pomfret Public Library includes about 2000 sq. ft of meeting room space for groups of 8 to 60 people. This space will be available for programs and events sponsored by the library and by other community organizations.
Improvements include:
Lounge & café: space to relax or have a quiet conversation
Conference Room & Archives: business & board meetings, research the archives of the Pomfret Historical Society
Great Room: meetings, concerts, classes, movies, lectures, poetry, workshops…
Activity Space: a Story Time/group play/Maker Space equipped for art, crafts, games, STEAM
Restrooms: two private, accessible, unisex family restrooms
Art gallery: current and retrospective exhibits of local talent
Patio: extending the Great Room outside to the existing deck, gardens, and walking trail
Rooms available for booking after-hours: meeting space for local organizations, boards and clubs
Technology: all rooms fully equipped with computers, fiber internet, wifi, projection and sound
The Basics
- The town was awarded a grant in 2018 from the CT State Library to cover half of the projected construction costs. Those costs skyrocketed during the Covid-19 pandemic and we needed to forfeit the original grant and reapply with an updated projected budget. We were then awarded a new grant in 2023 and have raised the additional matching funds to proceed as planned.
- We hope to begin construction in early 2025.
- The addition will be to the south side of the library.
- The new space is designed for group meetings and activities. The existing space will remain much the same, but with improved access to the collections.
- details of the building project
- how you can contribute