On Saturday, July 21, it was my pleasure to spend the morning hours at the Greenfield Public Library. I do this gladly each Saturday as an assistant librarian, but this day was quite special.
The Friends of the GPL were sharing a celebration with the people of Greenfield because, after much hard work by many people over many months, the library was notified that it had received a very generous grant from the commonwealth to build a much-needed new library, and the Friends wanted everyone to know how thankful all who are connected to the library are, and how important this project is.
From 9:30 until noon, the library was alive with over 400 smiling adults and kids, all enjoying delicious refreshments, passing on congratulations, and asking important questions about the next phase of the project. These questions will be answered over the next few months in community forums to inform the citizens of Greenfield about the specifics of the project, and will be done more thoroughly then can be done in a letter to the editor.
But I can say, as a person working in the current library and as a taxpayer, that this project is a good one for a variety of reasons. First, all that can be done to minimize the cost to taxpayers will be done. A well-planned, utile building, yes; a beautiful addition to Main Street, yes; but a Taj Mahal, no.
Secondly, the current building, while charming and iconic, has run out of space (no additions can be made to buildings on the National Register of Historic Places), and is declining, and the mechanical repairs that will be necessary will be very costly.
Third, the new building will add one more very important dimension to the city of Greenfield: a library that says to all who see and use it that this city has the needs of its citizens at the forefront of its decision-making.
And finally, it will help promote the establishment of a very important public safety complex so that our police and fire departments are able to do their jobs in the best and most efficient manner.
Greenfield has made many improvements over the past several years: a new high school, a new senior center, transportation hub, courthouse, and parking garage. I once was forced to listen to those who said the city was slowly dying and boring, but not anymore. Now I can point to these excellent additions to the city and to the many fine and independent restaurants and shops that are thriving and say this is a city with a lively present and a great future. It’s time to build a new library and keep Greenfield moving forward.
Barry McColgan
Greenfield