Athol Public Library

ATHOL PUBLIC LIBRARY

Building Project Information

OPM = Owner’s Project Manager = Dick Thuma of BH+A (Bargmann Hendrie and Archetype), Boston Architect = Jeff Hoover and Meliti Dikeos of Tappe Associates, Boston General Contractor = D.A.Sullivan & Sons, Inc., Northampton Clerk of the Works = Michael Luongo, Acton

The renovation will make the library completely compliant with all ADA regulations.

It will be funded by a combination of a grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC), funding from the town, and donations. Total anticipated cost of the project = $8.5 million.

Current library size = approximately 8,000 square feet Proposed size with addition = approximately 20,000 square feet

PARKING

# of parking spaces now = 45 # of parking spaces in new lot = 88

PROJECT HISTORY

Planning started for this project in 2003. The Planning & Design Grant was approved unanimously in 2005 with an award from the MBLC. The MBLC state Construction Grant was awarded in July 2011 following positive town meeting and ballot election results to fund the town’s share of the project. Completion date is scheduled for September 30, 2013.

LIBRARY HISTORY Library service in Athol dates back to 1830. The “newest” part of the building is 48 years old.

 The original Carnegie building dates to 1918.

 The “new” addition was built in 1965.

 The library added a ramp for handicapped access in 1985.

 The elevator and side entrance ramp were added in 1988.

 The 1965 addition was removed in 2012 to make way for the new addition.

 The historic Carnegie will be fully renovated. Population of Athol = 11,299 APL registered borrowers = 13,234

Major customer service benefits with the renovations:

 Fully accessible

 Drive-up book drop

 Dedicated space & collection for teens

 Expanded Children’s department with play area and dedicated program room

 Expanded, climate controlled local history room

 Many comfortable seating areas for reading

 Many work tables for researchers

 An area especially for wireless users

 More public computers

 Quiet study rooms for small groups, tutoring, etc.

 After-hours community room and Conference room that groups can sign up to use

 Senior Learning Center that can also be used for any kind of computer class for all ages

 Enough space to hold adult & children’s programming simultaneously

 Better lighting

 Green features: daylighting (natural), low flow toilets, automatic light monitoring, solar photovoltaic’s, highly improved drainage with new rain garden and detention pond

WHAT THE FUNDRAISING MONEY WILL BUY:

Furniture for adult, children and young adults, conference and meeting areas (i.e., tables, chairs, study carrels, workstations, easy chairs, folding tables and chairs, child specific furniture)

Metal shelving with end panels to hold over 55,000 items in our current collection

Computers for the public in young adult, children’s and adult departments

Computers for the Senior Learning Center

Laptops for general use

Projection equipment for programs (overhead projector, screens, white boards) Printers and copy equipment

Miscellaneous library equipment (i.e. self check out stations, book trucks)

Movable divider in the large program room to divide the space in half for adult and children’s programs

Rolling compact shelving units for the archives room (for security and compact storage)

Security system (burglar)

Security system (cameras)

Key access control system

Signage throughout the building