Overview:
Residents of Turners Falls have expressed their interest in improved accessibility and more space for their local library during a feedback session hosted by the Library Building Steering Committee. The committee is tasked with designing a new library or renovating the existing Carnegie Library on Avenue A, with a proposed design to be presented to the public for feedback on September 11. The project is being funded by a $100,000 Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program grant, with the state providing a 60% reimbursement for the first $5 million spent by the town.
TURNERS FALLS — Residents this week shared their interest in improved accessibility and more space with the architects who are tasked with designing a new library or renovating the existing Carnegie Library on Avenue A.
Tuesday’s feedback session, hosted by the Library Building Steering Committee at the Gill-Montague Senior Center, invited staff from the architectural firm Schwartz/Silver and the owner’s project manager, Downes Construction, to update residents on the design and planning phase, which is being funded by a $100,000 Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program grant.
“The grant is in place for the project, but there’s a lot of hard work to do in between now and the end of the year,” Downes Construction Project Executive Steve Smith said. “We need to make a submission to the state on what the idea is for the library here in town.”
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners requires design submissions for proposed improvements at the existing Carnegie Library, built in 1906 at 201 Avenue A, or for a new library that would be built at 38 Avenue A, as part of the grant process.
“We’re going to give proper design time to both because it’s really necessary to vet these options early,” Angela Ward Hyatt, president of Schwartz/Silver, said about the two options.
Before the end of the year, a site will be chosen and shared in a meeting on Aug. 14, and the proposed design will be presented to the public for feedback on Sept. 11. The proposed design will then be submitted to the state by the end of December.
Once a site is picked and the design is finalized, cost estimates will be shared with the public to understand what the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners will pay for and what the town will need to cover. The state will provide a 60% reimbursement for the first $5 million spent by the town, as well as an extra 17% reimbursement depending on the results of the board’s community needs assessment of Montague.
Coming into Tuesday’s meeting, Schwartz/Silver had already received feedback showing an interest in increasing accessibility for patrons with disabilities, ensuring a connection to nature, having community rooms that can be accessed both during and after library hours, and creating age-specific programming rooms and a local history room.
After the presentation gave some background about the project itself, the floor was opened for residents to share their ideas from pre-selected prompts. Discussion points varied from climate-friendly construction, feasibility of a renovation and ensuring designs blend in with the existing downtown character, among other topics.
Disability advocate and Montague resident Betty Tegel said accessibility improvements and integrated spaces are not available now, and an improved Carnegie Library or a new library should have these features.
“What I’m seeing in many libraries — and I visited a lot of them — is there’s no special room for elders or persons with disabilities. I’m looking at integrated programs, so the children’s room could also be a senior reading program room with the young children,” she said. “Integration, inclusion, accessibility, and to have all of us welcome in all these programs and not a separate room for each.”
Parking and accessible parking spots were also discussed, with residents curious as to how parking could be expanded at the Carnegie Library given the grade of the land the building sits on and existing on-street parking. Montague Public Libraries Director Caitlin Kelley noted accessibility has been a top concern among residents.
“We literally have had patrons get on the ground to reach a book on the bottom shelf and not being able to get up,” Kelley said. “So we are focused on not having books on the bottom shelves or the very top.”
Residents also shared ideas about what the spaces in the library could be used for, with Tegel reiterating her interest in integrated programming, and others floating ideas like a “tween” room. One larger discussion point was the need for a community room that fits enough people.
Kelley and Ward Hyatt said that in libraries that are built today, community rooms are designed for flexibility in use. Kelley noted the community space would aim to serve residents in downtown Turners Falls who may not be able to reach other gathering locations in Montague.
Moving forward, the site selection presentation will be held at the Gill-Montague Senior Center on Thursday, Aug. 14 at 6 p.m., followed by the design concept reveal on Thursday, Sept. 11, at 6 p.m. at the Great Falls Discovery Center.
