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08/27/2019 03:46 PMAfter starting construction early this year, renovations and fundraising for the E.C. Scranton Memorial Library are now moving along a steady clip, with a grand re-opening targeted for July 2020.
Under new director Sunnie Scarpa, and with former interim director Laura Downes helping oversee the transition, a bumpy start to the project appears to have found its footing as the library hopes to offer more space, more programming, and a more efficient overall experience for visitors.
The renovation, which was approved by referendum in 2017, saw upheaval last year when the Library Building Committee switched architects and changed designs, and grant money was almost lost due to a misunderstanding with the State Historic Preservation Office.
Now, Scarpa said, the project has just hit another fundraising milestone—there’s just under $500,000 left to reach the $6 million goal—and other details continue to fall into place.
Scarpa started at E.C Scranton in May. She said that Downes staying on in a new position has been vital to keeping the project on schedule.
“Decisions have to be made every day,” said Scarpa. “So if I needed to come in and research every decision, find out the back story, talk to people so I could make an educated decision, we would fall behind. We can’t fall behind. So she is super-duper key to the success of the project.”
The large goals of the renovation are geared toward providing more space for library patrons. The library is expanding from approximately 17,000 square feet to around 37,000, as well as adding a parking lot.
The $15 million total cost of the renovation and expansion was split, with $9 million bonding approved by voters and $6 million pledge by the library in fundraising.
Downes’s experience and history with the project has allowed Scarpa to hone in on the details, she said—the little things that will make the new library more modern, convenient, and accessible to patrons.
“We’re hoping to get in the new building and be ready to go with more programming, more services, a lot more hours...so we need to be sort of ready to go when we re-open,” she said.
Everything from policy and software upgrades to new lighting and expanded environmental education programs will be part of a hit-the-ground running strategy next summer.
Programming space has been a hot topic around Madison, and Scarpa said she has spoken to First Selectman Tom Banisch about incorporating the library and its resources into the town’s 10-year Strategic Plan
“There’s an opportunity for us to work together,” said Scarpa, “to make the library really intentionally support the goals of the town.”
As far as fundraising, Scarpa described the library as being in “countdown mode,” with less than a year to go to its targeted reopening. She said the library was “on track” for fundraising goals, with naming opportunities still available for rooms in the library, and several events over the course of the next few months. Fifty-five people so far have joined the Golden Shovel Society, which requires an individual donation of $1,000.
For more information, visit www.scrantonlibrary.org/futures.