The Meredith Public Library has received a $15,000 grant from the Association for Rural & Small Libraries for a weatherization project. "In order for our addition and renovation project to come in at budget, we needed to put some things on hold. This included replacing the windows in the 1980's addition and adding insulation to some areas of the historic building, especially the attic," said Library Director, Erin Apostolos. "This grant will help to cover the costs of our weatherization project. I will also be applying for a Moose Plate grant as well as one from the National Trust for Historic Preservation in the spring. The trustees have also budgeted for some of this work using funds from the library's Improvement Trust Fund."
The Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) builds strong communities through professional development and elevating the impact of rural and small libraries. ARSL recognizes the uniqueness of small and rural libraries and is committed to providing an environment that encourages excellence within this community of practice, supporting their goals of service and speaking on behalf of this important constituency. Visit the ARSL Website.
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The Meredith Library Fund presented their final $680,000 grant to the Town of Meredith. With their original $250,000 grant, a total of $930,000 was granted to the library's expansion/renovation project which is now nearing completion.
Interact President, Jasmine Morrissett presents Meredith Library Fund President, Jim McFarlin with a $500 check from the Interact Club after their successful Bob House raffle at this year's Great Meredith Rotary Ice Fishing Derby. Interact is Rotary in High School and the Fund greatly appreciates all of the hard work done by the club that went into this donation.
In case you missed the big news, here is a media round-up!
A huge thank you to the community for all of us at the Meredith Library. We could not do this without your support. Don't forget two very important upcoming events: February 29 at 11AM: Library Building Project Update @the Community Center March 11 at 7PM: Town meeting is at the Inter-Lakes High School auditorium. The library building renovation/expansion project will be on the warrant for vote. Thank you! Business Spotlight with Lake Life Realty!
Announcing the Meredith Library Fund Hashtag Challenge!
Get caught reading by the thermometer in front of the Meredith Public Library! Safely take a pic and post it on their facebook post with the hashtag #movethemercury and be entered to win a library-themed gift basket. The picture with the most likes by 8 PM on Monday, 9/2/19 will be declared the winner. Let's get that next $50,000! For more information on the mission of the Meredith Library Fund, ways to donate, and updated project information, visit www.meredithlibraryfund.org. A huge thank you to Joanne DeMaio who has donated all of her books to the Meredith Library! If you're looking for a great beach read, here's a great selection to choose from!
Visit her website for more information: www.joannedemaio.com/ Meredith Library Fund thanks Paquette Signs for their in-kind donation of the two “thermometer” signs supporting our Capital Campaign which are now installed at the Meredith Public Library lawn and the Route 3/25 junction.
“Paquette Signs, located in Meredith, has been designing and building signs for New Hampshire’s Lakes Region and beyond since 1970. We produce signs the old fashioned way combined with modern day technology. “We build signs that build business.” The 501(c)(3) Meredith Library Fund’s mission is to obtain tax-deductible donations and grants to provide a philanthropic opportunity to help equip, renovate and expand the Meredith Public Library and reduce taxpayers’ cost for the project. Meredith Library Fund’s campaign launched February 1, 2019 and will end March 1, 2020. Through generous pledges and donations, we have already raised $540,000 toward our goal of $1,125,000. For more information about ways to donate to our Capital Campaign and the project please visit our website www.meredithlibraryfund.org As Meredith residents, we have established the independent 501(c)(3) Meredith Library Fund. Our mission is to obtain tax-deductible donations, pledges and grants to
provide a philanthropic opportunity to help equip, renovate and expand the Meredith Public Library and reduce taxpayers’ cost for the project. The campaign launched on February 1, 2019. We are pleased to report pledges are already at $60,000, jump starting our fundraising efforts. We are setting a goal of $1,125,000 for the capital campaign, based on the positive feedback received from the recent Library Trustees Fundraising Study. The Meredith Library Fund has received our 501(c)(3) designation letter from the Internal Revenue Service which can be viewed on our website. To learn more about Meredith Library Fund and the different ways to donate, pledge or volunteer, visit our website at www.meredithlibraryfund.org . Questions regarding the fund should be directed to Meredith Library Fund president Jim McFarlin at 603-393-0863 or jameswmcfarlin@gmail.com . Many thanks in advance for your support. James McFarlin – President Jaime Laurent – Vice President Steven Geer – Treasurer Amy LaFavre – Secretary Jeff Reilly – Director at Large Press Release: Library trustees and Select Board issue update on library expansion and renovation9/28/2018 The trustees of the Meredith Public Library and the Meredith Select Board want to update library patrons and taxpayers on the status of the project to expand and renovate the Meredith Public Library.
“It's been a busy and productive summer,” says Ann Butler, chairman of the library board of trustees. Butler notes that “A publicly funded building project takes far more planning and coordination than would be involved in building a home or even a privately funded commercial building. There's been ongoing dialog with town officials and town committees since the spring as we follow the steps that are required by the town.” Those discussions have been cordial and productive notes Butler. Jonathan James, chairman of the select board and a Meredith library trustee, concurs. Noting that all but two of the seven library trustees were elected for the first time in March he says, “The current board of library trustees has been working with town officials to get an understanding of the process that needs to be followed in a town funded project.” He’s also eager to let the public know that the select board and the library trustees are in agreement that the library will be staying in its current location and that the expansion and renovation needs to happen to meet the current and future needs of town residents. The project has already come before the capital improvements planning (CIP) committee and will again be before the CIP committee in October. “There are several projects in the next few years that need to be scheduled in a way so as not to significantly impact the town’s tax rate,” says James. Although still subject to change in the next few months, the current thinking is that the library trustees will be seeking funding at the town meeting in March of 2019 for the design phase of the project. This phase involves the library trustees sending out through the town a formal request for qualifications (RFQ) for an architect in the project. James notes that this phase of the project can only start if the money is approved at town meeting. Once the RFQ responses are back, the library trustees will formally select an architect to move the project from the conceptual phase it’s currently in to the design process. It is the design process that will eventually result in the development of the detailed plans used for the construction and renovation of the library. Butler states that public input will be a key part of this design process. “The trustees are planning on using a charrette process and surveys to get as many people as possible to participate. We will be updating the public regularly as the planning process moves forward.” Following the formal design process, the funds for construction and renovation will be requested in a warrant article at a town meeting. James notes that the current thinking is that this will be in 2020, although he notes that this may change. Although the exact timing of the process is still pending based on the work of the CIP committee this fall, the town and the library trustees agree that the project will have owner’s project manager (OPM) who will oversee and manage the project from beginning to end. While it is anticipated that a large percentage of the library project will be funded through a bond sought by the town, efforts are already underway to seek donations and grants to reduce the cost of the project. As is common these days with library building projects, an independent charitable 501(c)(3) organization known as the Meredith Library Fund is being formed. They seek private and corporate donations and grants to reduce the taxpayer’s cost for the project. Butler notes that this entity is an independent organization from the library, the Friends of the Library and the town, but has the full support of the library trustees and the select board. Questions regarding the fund should be referred to the Meredith Library Fund president Jim McFarlin. |
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The Librarians and Library Aides of the Meredith Public library: Erin, Chris, Matthew, Karen, John, Cherie, Joyce, Jessica, and Linda. Please check out our Staff page for more information. Archives
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