Campaign to raise money for library renovations

Date: 6/14/2011

June 15, 2011

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

HOLYOKE — The public fund-raising campaign to help underwrite the renovations to the Holyoke Public Library started on June 9 with a $200,000 donation from PeoplesBank.

The donation goes toward the $2.5 million the Friends of the Holyoke Public Library have committed to raise for the project. Through donations made by about 100 donors during the "quiet phase" of the campaign, the Friends group is about halfway toward their goal.

The project at historic 110 year-old building on Maple Street will expand the usable square footage by 264 percent and provide space for children's programs and expanded computer and literacy training services as well as meeting the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioner standards for a library to serve a city the size of Holyoke.

Library Board President Terry Plum noted that even in the era of home computers and smartphones, a library is still relevant and needed. The library had over 100,000 visits in 2008-2009, 20 percent more than the previous year — which itself saw a marked increase from the year before — and the children's summer reading program was at capacity in 2010.

Plum noted an example of a chess club for teens. Even though the youthful players could engage in chess matches online, they appreciate the community and companionship they have through the library.

Lou Oldershaw, the honorary co-chair, along with Alice Childs, of the campaign, said there are two projects that will make a significant change in the Paper City. One is the High Speed Green Computing Center, currently under construction, while the other is the expanded and renovated library.

"Holyoke has a new era coming," Oldershaw said.

Matt Blumenfeld, president of Financial Development Agency, which is supervising the campaign said that groundbreaking on the project should be in October. The project should be completed in the fall of 2013.

Mayor Elaine Pluta kicked off the event by issuing a proclamation for the campaign and called the renovation of the Holyoke Library "a historic project that will transform it into a 21st Century library and learning center."