X

Potsdam library fundraising for multi-stage renovation project

Posted 1/6/19

North Country Now POTSDAM -- A fundraising campaign has begun as a multi-phase renovation project for the Potsdam Public Library reaches the design stage. Construction of the Phase One plan to extend …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Potsdam library fundraising for multi-stage renovation project

Posted

North Country Now

POTSDAM -- A fundraising campaign has begun as a multi-phase renovation project for the Potsdam Public Library reaches the design stage.

Construction of the Phase One plan to extend the mezzanine at the back of the building will begin “probably no sooner than the end of May,” Chase said.

Renew Architecture and Design in Potsdam, a firm on Maple Street headed by Rebecca Weld, has been appointed by the library to design the improvements, and are plotting out details of the work. Then, requests for contracting bids go out.

“We have developed a multi-phase master plan to revitalize our space,” Chase said.

The first goal of the renovation is to increase the square footage of the library. The mezzanine project will extend it along about a third of the east wall and enclose the area below to create space for “a large classroom where we can hold library programs which are currently held off-site in the Civic Center, a computer lab area where patrons can experience an appropriate level of privacy, and an enclosed children's area where parents and children can feel more comfortable making noise, allowing other patrons to have a quiet environment,” Chase said.

The partially-enclosed computer lab will be on the upper level, and below will be the enclosed children's area and a larger classroom for the expanding and evolving range of instruction at the library – “all types of classes. We have recently had a variety of topics – finance, crafting, Lego activities for children” augmenting the many computer classes the library offers. “We should have room for more than 12 people at a time,” Chase said.

The library has funding of $269,513 from a New York State Library Construction Program grant for Phase One, to which the library must add a one-third match of $90,000.

They have submitted a subsequent application for $450,000 for Phase Two, which will require a match of between 25 and 33 percent if it is approved. Results of the second application will be known next summer when the awards are announced.

The fundraising is, among other things, to assure they can meet those matching requirements and not deplete savings in the long process.

“The whole construction plan is four to five years out,” Chase said.

“We have a certain amount in savings and will use it gladly for grant matching, but if we use it all now we won’t have it when we do phases three, four and five. The more we can raise the farther we can go. If we don’t continue to do fundraising there won’t be those later phases. So we hope to use fundraising and savings to sustain the project through to the end.

“We cannot apply for Phase Three grants unless we do well with fundraising.”

Chase is buoyed by the fact that “we’ve been doing steadily better with fundraising.” That means that “more people are aware” of the value of the library. “It’s something people are interested in, and people see clearly it’s necessary,” Chase said.

In the library's second phase plan is to improve the physical environment with a new heating system and air conditioning with zones to balance distribution in the large open areas. New LED lighting will be installed, and the drop ceiling over the main room will be taken down, revealing another eight feet of space above. They hope to remove the 40-year-old carpet and restore the original wood floor, replace lobby doors and windows, and the back entrance door.

The plans for the later stages of the revitalization include relocating the circulation desk to the center of the library, adding back and front elevators for improved access, renovating office space, and with village permission, restoring the historic theater balcony for a maker space and café.

Architect Weld, whose office is on Maple Street, is currently working on adjustments from a preliminary design to meet code standards.

“I’m excited to be working with them,” Weld said.

“We are happy to have her,” Chase said. “She’s adding such creativity to the process.

“It’s great to be working with local people. We want to keep as much of the work in Potsdam as possible.”