The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
‘Digital economy requires digital access’
$3.66M expansion will meet needs of 21st century society, supporters say
CROMWELL — Residents turned out more than 100 strong Wednesday to overwhelmingly approve $3.66 million in renovations and expansions that will allow the Cromwell Belden Public Library to meet the growing needs of a digital society.
The town won’t have to bear the full brunt of the costs greenlighted by the finance board on July 27. Because the expenditure was passed prior to March 1, the town can take advantage of a $1 million state library grant, which, combined with a $7,000 gift from the Community Foundation of Middlesex County and $41,438 in donations, will lower the town’s cost to $2.61 million.
It is a project that’s been a decade in the making, Town Manager Anthony Salvatore said.
The 75-person capacity meeting room was so overflowing with people that many gathered right outside to view the proceedings, evidence of the need for an expansion, Library Director Kara Canney said Thursday.
“I knew early on it was going to be OK when the room erupted into applause. There was no doubt it was going to pass,” Canney said.
Only about four or five people spoke out against the plan developed by the Hamden-based architectural firm Silver/Petrucelli + Associates, Salvatore said.
“I’m happy with turnout, and equally pleased it was supported by a vast majority of people who came out,” Salvatore said. “The library was completed along with the Town Hall in 1985 and nothing has been done since. It is in dire need of some updates.”
“It really validated my profession. Last night was really heartwarming,” said Canney, who took over Eileen Branciforte’s position in August.
The project calls for 14,045 square feet of renovations — which will transform the courtyard into part of the facility — and a 4,395square-foot expansion to the existing building at 39 West St.
Branciforte wrote the state grant with the library commission in 2008, Canney said. When it went to referendum in 2010, the proposal lost by 87 votes, something officials attributed to the economic climate of the time.
If the money was not approved by March 1, that grant would be lost, Canney said. “This was our last chance.”
Elizabeth Jasecki, a lifelong resident who admittedly no longer frequents the library as often as she once did, was one who opposed the bond measure. “To spend $3.6 million on the library is a little much,” she said. “I wouldn’t mind some renovations for $1 million or less. What are they going to have? Gold-plated stairs or something?”
Jasecki said she looks up anything she needs to know on the computer or reads books online.
“The library infrastructure has not been updated in a long time,” Canney said, pointing to the recent New Year’s Eve party for people who didn’t want to stay up until midnight. “Too many showed up for the fire code. It’s an example of how many more people can be accommodated.”
After construction is complete, the space-cramped meeting room where the vote was taken will be doubled in size and there will be an optional divider wall, which will allow two programs to take place at once, Canney said.
Mayor Enzo Faienza is eager to have use of the new facility, especially for board and commission meetings that can’t be accommodated next door at Town Hall.
“There’s not a lot of technology now in Town Hall, audio and visual,” he said, pointing to 3D printers and charging stations and the like, “which will give kids options other than the opportunities already offered in the schools.”
He looks forward to classes for the community, especially seniors, on how to use a tablet, iPad or notebook — “those types of functionalities that are popular in society.”
Councilman James Demetriades, who supported the measure, said he recognizes concerns raised by residents. “The people opposed have a very valid reason for being worried. I appreciate opposition, because it’s important to ask questions. People should keep asking questions. That’s the way to keep ourselves responsible.
“It’s not a 21st-century library. We need access to databases, job searches and other pieces of technology that some people can’t get access to. A digital economy requires digital access,” Demetriades said.
“People kept telling me — and it makes me cringe — there’s no need for libraries anymore. That’s so not true. In December, we answered more reference questions than ever,” Canney said.
Councilman Myron Johnson, who spoke against the proposal at the meeting, said he fully understands why many supported the renovations.
“It’s not the best time to do something like this. I’m conservative. There’s been an awful lot of spending in the last year. It’s something I’ve never seen before in Cromwell. This should be on the back burner.
“There are so many properties vacant around town. The only way to fund a project like this is directly from people’s property taxes. We should focus on a robust economic plan first, then pay for the library — otherwise it’s reckless spending,” Johnson said. “Just because we have a grant available, I don’t think that’s a good enough reason why” it should go ahead. “I can understand people wanting it — at least (now) they can see where their tax dollars are going.
“Look up and down Main Street. There are a lot of vacancies: Kmart plaza is half-empty, businesses are leaving, building lots are empty. It’s a feel-good project. I understand people want to do it, but look at the ramifications down the road,” Johnson said.
The state is operating under an extremely tough economic climate, Johnson said.
“People can’t afford to stay and they can’t afford to go. We need to bring jobs back to Cromwell and Connecticut. It’s the only way to promote what we have and we need to seek out businesses that bring people in.”
Canney said, however, access to state-of-the-art technology is becoming all the more essential to communities.
The Belden has two new virtual reality goggles, which allow patrons to do many things, such as exploring college campuses as far away as California and taking part in museum tours.
“Not everyone can afford to go to the Louvre,” Canney said. “We want the library to be the first place people go to because we have that technology — and you don’t have to be a library user to reap the benefits.”