For the past five years, the Board of Trustees of the East Haven Public Library, the Hagaman Memorial Library has participated in the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven’s annual Great Give virtual fundraising campaign. This year’s 36-hour event will be Tuesday, May 4 and Wednesday, May 5

“We are hopeful that this year’s donations will be at least as good as last year,” said Ron Whitney, treasurer of the Board of Trustees. “We understand that in this COVID year, monies could be tight and folks may choose to assist different non-profits, which is fine with us. Our hope is that those who can afford it will find it in their hearts to donate for the good of our community.”

The proceeds from these annual fundraising campaigns are earmarked to help with the maintenance of the library building and systems, which will be 100 years old in 2028. The library, founded in 1909 and incorporated as the East Haven Public Library in 1921, will celebrate its 100th anniversary this year.

The library changed its name to honor benefactor and East Haven resident Isaac Hagaman in 1928. According to a press release from the library, upon his death in 1925, Hagaman left his entire estate to the Town of East Haven with the understanding that a library would be built in his name and that a trust fund would be set up to pay for the library’s upkeep. This story is verified with primary source materials and may be viewed on the library’s Give Greater profile page.

The source materials are presented in a slideshow that features The Hagaman Library Song (copyright 2009) written by Tom Callinan. The song recounts library beginnings in East Haven and the philanthropy of East Haven citizens. Designated Connecticut’s first official state troubadour in 1991, Callinan has composed more songs about Connecticut’s people, places, and events than anyone in history, according to a press release from the Hagaman library.

The profile also outlines the library’s needs, which focuses on a capital improvement project for an ADA Compliant/Self Service Elevator Project, estimated at $500,000 in construction costs and $70,000 in architect fees. The current elevator, which was installed in 1975, is not ADA-compliant and requires staff operation. The library will apply for a Connecticut State Library Construction Grant for accessibility which will match funds up to $250,000 for the construction cost of the new elevator.

“The elevator’s access to all levels of the building eliminates physical barriers for people to enter the building including the original community room which is not handicapped accessible,” said the needs statement. “The project solves both having an accessible elevator and having access to the overall library building.”

Whitney explained that past Great Give donations have been deposited into the DeMayo building fund as the discussion of the elevator project has been ongoing since 2018. The current elevator does not stop at every floor, which limits public access. The board has engaged two architects to provide blueprints for the board’s vision of going from two stops to four stops, which would include the Community Room; the current stop, which is about five feet above the Community Room; the main circulation desk; and the upper rotunda.

“Although the library has grandfathered in under ADA compliance, our elevator is ancient and can’t accommodate today’s modern wheelchairs,” said Whitney, who said other updates and repairs have been made possible by the Great Give. “Monies from Great Give donations have also been used to assist with building repairs, including replacement of circuit boards and pull stations in our fire alarm system. We also used some of these monies to assist with asbestos resealing throughout the lower level as well as carpet replacement in the community room.”

To donate, visit givegreater.cfgnh.org.