- What is the cost of updating and renovating the library?
We have been quoted a total cost of $5.5 million.
- How much has been raised so far?
We have received $4.5 million from private donors.
- What do you need from the town?
On Wednesday, March 10 the town will vote on Warrant Article #3,
for the town to issue a $1million dollar bond to support the renovation and expansion needed of our town library.
It’s important to know that should the project come in under
budget, the excess funds will be returned to the town to bring down the cost of the bond, a cost-saving measure for all taxpayers.
- How many square feet will the addition add to the library?
The existing building is 4,485 square feet; the new addition is 4,901 square feet making the total square footage 9,387 feet (existing and new.)
- Why not wait until you have the full $5.5 million instead of asking for a $1 million bond?
We feel that we have done an excellent job of raising money. The remaining $1million would be an investment from the town’s residents to provide a community center and library that they can be proud of. The town would essentially be getting a $5.5 million building for $1 million.
- How much is it going to cost my family every year?
The added tax for a home that is valued at $716,243 (the town’s median home assessment) is $90.82 yearly. That number varies per assessment.
- Why not just build a new library which might be more cost effective?
The library is an historic building that was built by Joseph Hilliard in 1895 as a gift to the town to house books. A new addition creating a children’s room and more space for books was added 50 years ago. New construction would necessitate purchasing of land, surveying, new well and septic, etc.
- Why does the library need an elevator?
The library is not ADA compliant. We have many people of all ages and abilities that cannot access all 3 floors of the building or the small restrooms.
- Why can’t the library use the Grange or the elementary school for their activities?
The school’s multi-purpose room is used daily after school for their own programs. Also, other groups use the gym for recreational activities.
The Grange acoustics are not suitable for our programming. We also do not want kids walking across a busy street from the library.
- Will the library be closed during construction?
If we feel that it is unsafe for patrons, we will revert to our practices during Covid when we pulled materials for patrons and put them in a protected space outside or in our front vestibule.
- Will the addition require higher maintenance costs like heat, electricity and staffing?
There won’t be a need for more staffing unless a high increase in usage requires it. The interior plans are designed so one staff member can see both entrances as well as activity in the building.
Maintenance and repair costs will be greatly reduced. Operational cost will be approximately the same, given the library will be twice as energy efficient and twice the size; therefore, the reduced energy usage will offset the added area to heat and cool.
- Why the need for an addition?
The expansion will provide meeting spaces for students, remote workers, small groups, and a larger room for our children’s programming and materials. The library also houses all the Kensington Historical Society’s artifacts and town records. We are hoping to create a welcoming space for those in town and out of town who want to access these important papers.