The Reading Public Library Board of Trustees are gearing up over the summer to file a Fall application for a state construction grant to renovate and expand the library building.
A Library Planning Consultant is currently assessing the library’s programmatic needs for the next twenty years and will issue a report to the Trustees in August. We’re also seeking proposals for an Owner’s Project Manager to oversee a feasibility and design study to investigate how the current facility can be renovated and expanded to meet increasing demands on services and future growth.
In the 26 years that the Reading Public Library has occupied the former Highland School Building, library business has doubled, computers have become an important part of library services, the children’s room has stretched beyond capacity, and somehow – ? – the parking lot seems to have shrunk! In fact, I’m pretty sure the children in the playground in the picture above are standing beyond the edge of the library parking lot! While the library may appear to be spacious and open, behind the scenes a lot is going on and, with the likelihood that there won’t be another state construction grant round for libraries for many years to come, we’re investigating options to make room for the next generation of library users, adding some study and quiet reading spaces, children’s program space, and updating the infrastructure for technology and modern systems.
We’ll keep you informed as progress unfolds, but of course, please feel free to send any questions you have our way in the meantime.
Have a happy summer – and hope I see you soon at the library!
Ruth
We’re canceling the Library Building Planning Meeting for this evening – our facilitator had to go out of town. We’ll re-schedule later this summer. We apologize for the last minute change and hope you weren’t inconvenienced. Thank you!
What are you going to do to celebrate? We’re thinking of taking a picnic to Fruitlands tonight……. and even better, I may be able to borrow the library pass for a discounted admission.
Maybe I’ll see you there!
Whatever you do this weekend, I hope you’ll enjoy some time with friends and family, catch up on some summer reading, and make a few special memories of a Happy Fourth of July!
The Library seeks quotes for a Library Building Program Consultant to develop and write a building program statement in preparation for design work to be used for an application to the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Grant Program. Here’s the full document: RFQ
Annual Report for 2009! – pictures, charts, graphs ….. happy reading!
Walkable Reading and the Reading Public Library have teamed up to create an audio walking tour of some local historical landmarks. Here’s our first stab at some downloadable audio descriptions – click on the words to listen or the picture to take you to a larger photo on Flickr. We’re working on cataloging these files so you’ll have easy access ro all the information through keyword searches. Please bear with us as we work on this new-for-us offering – we hope it’ll be ready for walking and bicycling this spring!
86 West St Jabez Weston House.
458 Franklin St
420 Franklin St Joseph Parker House
320 West St Bancroft Homestead
284 Summer Ave Eaton-Prescott Farm
232 West St Samuel Bancroft Housee
409 Grove St Foster-Emerson House
483 Franklin St. Richard Nichols House
Are you looking for something to do this weekend? Don’t forget to check out all the possibilities at the library – you could stock up on best sellers, check out a movie or two, grab a couple of cds, read your favorite magazine, visit with a neighbor, borrow a laptop to use with the library’s wireless, read with your children, or find a warm bright spot to write your novel! And don’t forget to stop in to see the Photo Exhibit and vote for your favorite.
If you’re looking for something else to do, take a peek at our Museums page for some good ideas and great bargains – I just booked the pass for the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum to enjoy with an out-of-town guest. I was thrilled it was available, and grateful to our generous supporters who saved me $20 in admission costs.
That little library card is probably the MOST valuable card in my wallet…. .. or, as they say -”Priceless!”
What are you doing this Sunday? You could drop by the library, catch a free concert at 3 o’clock, take in the Friends’ travel photo exhibit featuring local photographers, vote for your favorite photo, and read the Sunday paper in a comfortable armchair – right here! Did I mention that it’s all free? Hope you can join us!
We’re proud to announce that Allison Sloan has been named Paraprofessional of the Year by Library Journal.
Sloan received the national award for her advocacy on behalf of Paralibrarians working in Massachusetts’ libraries: “Sloan has worked to highlight the valuable talents and contributions of paralibrarians to the library community (and) she has also reached out to connect them with librarians, library directors, and trustees to strengthen libraries.” (John N. Berry III – Library Jourral, 2/23/10)
The Reading Public Library extends warm congratulation to Allison for her achievement and also wishes to recognize the essential contribution paralibrarians make in providing excellent library service everyday!
Madly racing to finish Dennis Lehane’s The given day in time for our American Voices discussion Tuesday evening, 7:00
Sure hope you can join us – it promises to be a good one!
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