City councilors have questions on library renovation

Date: 2/10/2010

Feb. 10, 2010.

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



HOLYOKE -- The City Council Finance Committee tabled further discussion of the city's share of the budget for the construction of the new library in order to give all of the councilors an opportunity to submit questions for the board of trustees of the Holyoke Library to answer.

Library supporters packed the council chambers on Feb. 2 to support a presentation by Trustee Chair Terry Plum, Trustees Thomas Schwab and Ellen Moriarty and Library Director Maria Pagan.

Plum said the budget at this time for a structure that would preserve the historic facade of the building and add a new wing is would be$14.5 million. The Friends of the Holyoke Public Library has committed to raise $2.5 million in a capital campaign with $4.4 million allocated by Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC), $520,000 from the library's endowment and $7.1 million from the city.

The library is not part of the city government, but is a separate non-profit organization. It does receive some funds from the city.

Plum asked the council to approve bonding at the present time for $5.5 million. He added because of how the funding that is already in place would be released, a city bond wouldn't have to be issued until 2012.

When asked what would happen if cost overruns propelled the budget higher, Schwab said the goal would be to seek those additional monies elsewhere and not come back to the city with an additional request. He later added he couldn't rule against a return request, though.

Schwab said library officials have examined closely the cost of the new Chicopee Library as a way to gauge the budget. He said the scenario of demolishing the present building from 1902 and building new has been considered but the budget wouldn't allow a big enough structure to qualify for the MBLC funds.

Schwab explained the MBLC studies the community and its use of the library to compute a size building adequate for future expansion of audience and services over the next 25 years. A preservation of part of the existing building with an addition meets the MBLC criteria.

Schwab said the MBLC has to notifiedby June 15 if the city has made a financial commitment.

Pagan said that use of the library and its services has increased due to the recession and the library plays a critical role in the city's economic development.

Moriarty told the councilors, "We need a new library. We need more space. We're not doing the job we should be for the city of Holyoke."