Bennington Public Library

Story

Bennington Public Library Board of Trustees in partnership with the Friends of the Bennington Library is seeking funding to renovate and expand the Bennington Public Library at its current location. The plan will create a modern information center and community gathering space for residents of Bennington and the surrounding area. The Bennington Public Library has outgrown its existing facility and does not adequately meet the current and future needs of the community in the confines of the current library space.

A Place for Lifelong Learning & Community Engagement

Since 1948, Bennington has enjoyed the benefits of a community library. Located at 15505 Warehouse Street since 1970, the Bennington Public Library has provided residents of Bennington and the surrounding area with resources for lifelong learning, a knowledgeable staff and a welcoming place to gather.

The current 1,500 sq. ft. library offers its patrons books, newspapers, magazines, large print books, local history, audio books, e-books, videos/DVDs and more. The library also provides community services such as reading programs for children, teens and adults, inter-library loans, computers with Internet access and printing capabilities, and Wi-Fi. A shared community meeting room of approximately 575 sq. ft. is part of the facility as well.

Beyond all of these materials and services, the library is a place where community members can come together to learn, socialize, meet, do business and educate their children--a community meeting hub.

A Growing Problem

The number of registered library users has more than quadrupled since 2004 from 691 to 3910. In the last ten years annual circulation has increased 95 percent from 27,460 to 53,412. Children’s program attendance has increased 571 percent in the same period, reflecting the growing population of young families in the greater Bennington community.
The current facility is no longer large enough to provide the services and programs demanded by the burgeoning population of the greater Bennington Community. There is no room for quiet study areas, there is limited seating in the library, and the single meeting room does not meet the needs of the community. With a growing population of young families and others, local youth organizations such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, youth sports clubs, and adult service organizations are limited in their options for holding meetings and events in this community. These organizations routinely meet at the local restaurant/bar in order to have adequate space. Bennington Library has received feedback from residents that the library would be a designated meeting space if it were available. In addition, there are not enough computer workstations to meet public demand. Although free wireless Internet is available, patrons with their own devices must be prepared to sit on the floor, if they can find adequate floor space.

A larger print collection is needed for the library’s ever-growing service population, but there is not enough space for current collections, let alone space to add to the holdings. Every time a new item is added to the collection, an item must be removed to make room.

The current facility prevents the library from adapting to its growing patronage and providing a top-rate library experience for future generations. To continue to grow and develop new programs, the library must acquire more space.


Organizing for a Solution

Recognizing and responding to the need for additional space, community members chartered the Friends of the Bennington Public Library in 1992 to raise awareness and funds for a larger facility to service the rapidly growing Bennington community.

With support from the Bennington City Council and the Friends of the Library, the Library Board has determined that the best, most economical way for the library to acquire much-needed space is to expand into the adjacent fire station facility. The fire station will be vacated in early 2015. The project will result in not only a larger library, but a community engagement center to spur economic development in Bennington, foster community service opportunities and create a potential rental revenue source for sustenance.

The Bennington Public Library, including community meeting space, will occupy approximately 6,100 sq. ft. of the 10,800 sq. ft. building, sharing the facility with the city offices and other city departments. Renovation of the fire station will allow the library to:

• Provide private study/meeting areas (currently not available);
• Expand onsite programming opportunities, as currently there is only space for one program to take place at a time. Having multiple meeting room options will allow for library programs to be offered for different age groups simultaneously, enhancing the library experience for families and all patrons.
• Expand services to students and staff of the Bennington Public Schools, private schools and homeschooling networks through enhanced materials, meeting areas and reading programs.
• Offer spacious community meeting and conference rooms, with adjacent warming kitchen, which can be used for library activities and other community events. This new gathering space, which will be able to accommodate groups of up to 100 people, will offer many possibilities for Bennington area residents.
• Provide a parking lot for safe access to the library (currently no lot is available);
• Display special exhibits (currently there is no designated space for exhibits).

Funding the Vision

The estimated cost of the proposed library expansion and renovation is $1,074,476, including construction costs, furnishings and equipment for both library space and community meeting space.

The expansion project has been divided into three phases. At completion, the library will more than double its size. There will be meeting rooms for library programs and community events for groups of up to 100 people.

Phase I - Library Space (3060 sf)

Construction (3,060 @ $71/sf) $217,260
Soft Costs (legal, design, testing, etc.) $ 21,726
Furnishings ($25/sf) $ 76,500
Demolition, Permitting, etc. $ 45,000
Subtotal $360,486
Vestibule/Restrooms ($71/sf) $ 70,290
Total Phase I $430,776


Phase II - Exterior Renovations & Site Improvements

Construction $330,000
Soft Costs (legal, design, testing, etc.) $ 33,000
Total Phase II $363,000


Phase III Conference Center/Meeting Space (2,050 sf)

Construction (2,050 @$71/sf) $143,500
Soft Costs (legal, design, testing, etc.) $14,350
Furnishings ($25/sf) $51,250
AV Technology ($10/sf) $71,600
Total Phase III $280,700


Total All Phases $1,074,476

This project hinges on successful fundraising. The effort began with a $125,000 gift from the Friends of the Library. A fundraising committee made up of a cross-section of community members is actively seeking grants and donations from individuals, foundations, corporations, and community organizations through grant writing, personal visits, direct mail, and special events. The committee’s goal is to raise gifts and pledges totaling $1.1 million by August 2015. Phase One renovations will begin when gifts received total $430,776. As of March 28, 2015 gifts and pledges to the campaign have reached $378,000.

After the campaign goals have been reached, the Friends of the Library will continue its fundraising efforts with an organized and ongoing annual campaign. In addition, the meeting rooms will provide a revenue source to sustain the library’s growth by renting the space to community members for private events such as showers, birthdays, family reunions, and more.

This renovation project will allow Bennington Public Library to expand its programming to meet the demands of the community. The library is a vital cultural and economic asset, enhancing the quality of life and learning for residents of the Bennington area and Douglas County.

Mission

The Friends of the Bennington Library is a nonprofit organization committed to promoting the interest and welfare of the Bennington Public Library. The Friends organization supports the library’s literacy endeavors, encourages community involvement, and raises funds to enhance library services and programs.