Clapp for Community
February 5, 2010
Donors stand behind Library expansion effort...and new contributors
continue to join the effort.
more
December 2009
Clapp Memorial Library’s deadline for completing the requirements for
receiving a $3.3-million State grant has been extended to June 15, 2010. more
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Town Meeting on 11/10/09 failed to approve
the project.
We’re disappointed, of
course, that we were unsuccessful in obtaining Town Meeting approval of the
project, but we want to express our appreciation and thanks for the support
we received from so many people throughout the campaign and in the Special
Town Meeting itself.
As for what happens next, we
remain convinced that Belchertown needs to upgrade its library facilities.
We’re not sure what the next steps should be, so we’re applying to the
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners for an extension of the time
limit for completing the funding of the present project. That will give us
time to assess our alternatives and decide what to do next.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Certain institutions are vital to
the lifeblood of every community. In our town, the Clapp Memorial
Library, located in the very heart of Belchertown, has served as one of those
institutions. It has provided materials and services for readers,
information seekers, and life-long learners since it opened in 1887 -
a bequest of
John Francis Clapp.
In doing so, it has served as a focal point for learning and cultural events
for several generations. We hope to carry on the legacy of preserving
our heritage of the past and promise of the future.
A capital campaign – over 10 years in the
making – is underway to renovate and expand our facilities, to address
population growth that has burgeoned, the changing needs of today’s patrons
and the inefficiencies of our historic library building. The
goal is to rejuvenate the Clapp Memorial Library
to its original purpose: A Destination Place. THE
place in Belchertown to find reliable resources for readers and information
seekers of all ages; to experience learning and culture; and to enjoy
“community” at its finest.
Why
should we support
the renovation and expansion of the Clapp Memorial Library?
10.
The timing is critical.
Proceeding now will enable us to take advantage of a temporarily favorable
construction cost environment produced by the current economic downturn.
Furthermore, if we don’t
accept the presently-available State funds, it will be about ten years
before we can revive the project.
9. The
State wants to give us money. We have received a state grant for $3.3
million, contingent upon our arranging for the balance of the required
funds.
8.
Libraries are more important than ever,
especially in times of economic difficulty. Statistics show that library
usage has increased, not decreased, since the start of the computer age.
7. This
project will continue the legacy of John Clapp by providing free and
equal access for all citizens of Belchertown to be informed, literate,
educated and culturally enriched.
6. We can
retain and improve our historic treasure Much-needed safety, comfort,
accessibility and efficiency measures will preserve and upgrade the value
of the existing library building.
5. It will
improve property values.
The presence of an
adequate library makes Belchertown attractive for both new residents and
new businesses.
4.
Belchertown uses its library. Over 60% of town residents are library
cardholders, and our circulation rates and program participation are very
high.
3. All other
public buildings have been upgraded. Now, after 121 years, it’s time to
bring the library to the level we need.
2. The
library serves everyone in Town. It has something for all people of all
ages, interests, and circumstances.
1. It’s the right thing to
do. This is a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity for us to make a major
contribution to keeping Belchertown the kind of place we want to live.
Please join with us to help make the
Clapp Memorial Library all that our community needs and deserves. |
