KENT – After years of planning and the silent phase of fundraising, Kent Memorial Library Director Sarah Marshall is thrilled to be able to share the expansion plans for the building.
Marshall, a group from the Board of Directors, and members of the Campaign Cabinet spent Saturday afternoon answering questions and discussing the plans on display in the Reading Room with a stream of visitors.
“We are at an exciting moment,” Marshall said as she greeted people and accepted congratulations.
Ken Cooper, who has been extremely active on the Campaign Cabinet, said they hope to break ground in March 2025.
Library officials are proud of their fundraising efforts, with $6,175,000 raised to date in donations, pledges and grants. Now the public is being invited to join the effort and contribute to the remaining $125,000 needed to reach the goal. A total of $2 million is being awarded by the Connecticut State Library.
“We are not asking for more funding from the town,” explained Marshall. She acknowledged she wouldn’t rule out “bridge funding” during the year when the library will close for construction because their fundraising will be curtailed. There will not be a large summer-long used book sale that year. However, the annual benefit and the membership drive will continue.
“We will close and move to a temporary location,” Marshall said. The library is hoping to work out an arrangement with the First Congregational Church of Kent to use its Parish House.
This week the library launched its dedicated campaign page online.
The plans are online and it is possible to make a donation. There is also a video, which is a tour of the existing library with Marshall.
The library is also selling engraved bricks in three different sizes. Roz Molho was working the crowd Saturday encouraging residents to step up and make a donation. A $250 gift will purchase a 4-by-8 inch brick with three lines of type (20 letters and spaces); a $500 gift gets a 8-by-8 inch paver with six lines; and for $1,000, the donor gets a 12-by-12 inch paver with eight lines of custom engraving.
Expansion of the usable space and repurposing the current space are the goals of the new plan. The current library is 6,450 square feet and the expansion will add approximately 5,300 square feet, including a community room of 1,400 square feet. The remaining new areas include two small meeting rooms; a young adult room; an expanded information technology and circulation services area; a full disability access entranceway, restrooms and elevator to the community room.
