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Did you know?
Twelve years ago
we realized the inevitable – we were turning children away from programs and
were running out of shelf space. The town was poised to double in
population and the band-aid fixes were no longer effective or efficient.
The Trustees have
done their due-diligence. The state is poised to give us nearly 1/3 of the
cost. A feasibility study tells us that there are generous citizens and true
advocates in this town. The selectmen have unanimously endorsed the
project, as has 98% of the folks who visit this community treasure. Please
stop by and be counted!
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Clapp
Memorial Library
The Bequest
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The
Operation |
The Need |
The
Solution
The Bequest
The Clapp Memorial Library was made possible
chiefly by a bequest of Belchertown native John Francis Clapp. John
Francis’s father, James Harvey Clapp, moved to Belchertown from
Northampton in 1812, almost 200 years after Captain Roger Clapp, the
American family patriarch, sailed from England into Boston Bay. James
Harvey married Marilla D. Francis, daughter of the Reverend John Francis
of Pittsfield, in 1815, and they had five sons and three daughters. The
elder Clapp was prominent in public affairs for over sixty years,
serving as a selectman. County commissioner, and three-term
representative to the legislature. He was also one of the proprietors of
the old Boston and Albany stage line and the owner of a Belchertown
hotel.
John Francis Clapp, the eldest child of James
and Marilla, was born in Belchertown in 1818. A studious youth more
interested in books than in games, he is known to have said in later
years that he never had enough to read as a boy. He left the hill town
for New York City when he was sixteen years old, and there he continued
his studious habits, teaching himself both Spanish and French-languages
that proved helpful to him in business. He lived in New York for about
sixty years, becoming a partner in the firm of Simpson, Clapp, and
Company. Everett, Dwight, and Edward Lyman Clapp
followed their older brother to New York and, like him, became
merchants. They continued to maintain residences on South Main Street, returning with their families during the summer
months.
Toward the end of his life, John Francis Clapp
resolved to bestow the gift of a library on his native town.
He wanted
to have a handsome building with ample grounds, so that additions could
be erected in the future. He particularly wanted enough space for
lectures, concerts, and other entertainment. After discussing the
details with his brothers, he made provisions in his will for a bequest
of $40,000.00 to be set aside for the construction of the library and
for the purchase of its contents. John Francis Clapp died in 1882. His bequest,
held in trust by his brothers and sensibly invested, grew to $46,000.00
by 1887, the date by which the building, according to the will, had to
be completed. That sum paid for the construction and for the accession
of many original volumes.
The
Operation
 The Clapp
Memorial Library, with its magnificent stained glass windows, exquisite
interior woodwork and Longmeadow brownstone exterior, is regarded as one
of Belchertown's most precious assets and is listed on the National
Historic Register. The first librarian, Miss Lydia Barton, oversaw the
borrowing and lending of the first 344 books for the town's 2,120
residents. The building of 9,930 gross square feet had well-furnished
reading areas; book shelves on two levels; a stage, complete with a
grand piano, for cultural activities. and several small offices.
Although the town has provided financial
support for its operations, the library itself is not a municipal
building. It was created as a private, not-for-profit corporation,
governed by a seven member volunteer Board of Trustees. The Chair of the
Board of Selectman serves ex-officio. Funds for the operation and
maintenance of the library come from several sources: the town budget
(for wages, salaries and operational support); state and federal grants
and aid; charitable contributions; the Friends of the Library; and
library-generated income. The Clapp Memorial Library has deep roots in
the community, offering programs and resources to people of all ages.
It's been a place for children to grow and learn with story times and
crafts, researching and reading, doing homework and completing school
projects. It is a place for older patrons to enjoy the benefits of
lifelong learning by satisfying their need for information on an
infinite variety of subjects, in a variety of formats. Everyone benefits
from the competent and welcoming staff whose primary task is to provide
the community with public library services of the highest quality.
The Need
For
more than 120 years, the people of Belchertown have sustained and helped
the Clapp Memorial Library grow with their private and public support.
During this time the town's population has increased 7 times over and is
projected to reach 19,000 in the next decade. The building has never
been expanded. The current collection of 26,000 books, music CD's
and other items -- less than half of what is recommended for a town this
size -- is crammed into every available inch of usable space, leaving
little room for other library functions such as quiet reading
areas, computer work stations and program areas. Although
cherished, the Steinway piano had to be removed and is now on loan to a
local church, enabling the library to convert the stage into a much
needed children's area. The sub basement houses a small children's
program and meeting room and staff offices have been carved out of all
available nooks and crannies. A wealth of historical collections are
available to the public only by appointment. The library is down to less
than 3000 square feet of usable space for patron services.
It is also poorly lit, noisy, in need of climate control efficiencies
and safety measures, and out of compliance with the Americans with
Disabilities Act regulations.
Just as the schools, police and fire services,
senior citizen and emergency services, infrastructure and so many other
things have been heavily impacted by population growth, the town's
library is now beyond capacity and in need of attention.
The Solution
The Library Board of Trustees has
spent the last twelve years in planning and
long-term thinking for the Clapp Memorial Library, and now announces a
project for renovation and expansion of our facilities. The
overall goal is to transform the 121- year- old Clapp Memorial Library into
a 21st Century informational and cultural destination for the
people of Belchertown, while preserving the historic character of the
existing structure. The project will increase space to meet 20- year
population expectations (19,000) and meet state and national library
standards. The existing building will be renovated and updated, and a new
addition will provide separate spaces for various age groups. Overall, the
project will ; improve safety, convenience and access and provide
a-long-needed community room. The new structure will provide enhance
capacity for materials, technology and leisure activities - all in an
inviting atmosphere.
The Board has also established a balanced funding program to minimize the
burden on all taxpayers.
The proposal
calls for more than half the cost to be paid by a State grant and private
funds. The remaining half will be paid for with Municipal bonds. The cost
per household from the bond issue would be approximately $85/year -
equivalent to visiting a MegaBook store to purchase the following:
+
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In addition, annual
operating costs of the new library will be borne largely by the Town.
The success of the
vision for the Clapp Memorial Library will require some sacrifices and a
united front from Belchertown citizens
- those
who are frequent library users and those who are not. It is important that
everyone take time to become informed and aware of the value of this
project for current and future generations.
Two key votes will be required: (1) A
November ballot vote to approve the debt exclusion and (2) a Town Meeting
vote to approve the bonds.
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