Library Building Study Schedules Final Two Public Meetings

Seekonk residents will have an opportunity to view and discuss design options for the Seekonk Public Library at public meetings scheduled for Tuesday, March 29 and Wednesday, May 11. These meetings will be the final two meetings in a series of public discussions with the library planning and design team from Tappe Architects. Both meetings will start at 7:00 p.m. in the multi-purpose room at the library.

On March 29, architects from Tappe will present some design options for renovating and expanding the library building on its current site at 410 Newman Avenue. The Library Facilities Study Committee had discussed moving the library to another location, but the preliminary findings from the engineering surveys indicate that expansion at the current location may be the most feasible option. The study committee felt comfortable enough with these initial reports to limit designers to the Newman Avenue location until additional information is obtained.

On May 11, the design team will present the final schematic designs to the public. The conceptual designs and drawings will assist residents in visualizing what the renovated and expand facility may look like when completed. The design along with rough cost estimates for the project will be presented to the annual Financial Town Meeting on May 16 as the final recommendation of the Library Facilities Study Committee.

At the May Town Meeting, the study committee will be asking voters at town to accept the overall design and to grant permission to the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Library Trustees to apply for state and federal grant funds for the project. The study committee will not be requesting any local funding for the project at this time. Voters will have an opportunity to vote on funding the project at a future town meeting after the Town learns what other grant funding is available.

Residents can obtain additional information about the library facilities study by visiting the library website at www.seekonkpl.org or by calling the library director at (508) 336-8230, extension 5101.