Ashland Library Trustees Establish Building Fund

ASHLAND — The Trustees of the Ashland Town Library have created a Building Fund to address the space needs of the Town Library. For the past 75 years, the Library has been located in the Scribner Memorial Building, a 19th century house that was modified to serve the Library. The Library has now outgrown the space it occupies in the Scribner Building. As use of the Town Library increases, more space is needed for the collection, for patron usage, for computers, for programs and for staff work space. The Scribner Building also does not currently meet handicapped and life safety codes.

The Trustees believe that the Ashland Town Library needs a larger facility, that meets the current building codes and has room for larger collections of books, periodicals, videos and audio books, more computers for patrons (particularly those who cannot afford their own), enough tables and comfortable chairs for patrons, larger separate spaces for children and young adults, space for programs and meetings, and adequate staff work areas.

To meet the Library's space needs, the Trustees and Library Director have been considering various options, including renovation and expansion of the present building, purchase and renovation of an existing building, and construction of a new building. Last March, a warrant article to purchase and renovate the historic Ashland elementary school for a new library, by borrowing the necessary funds and having the property taxpayers pay for the entire project, failed at the polls. The Trustees are still inclined to think that using the former elementary school is the best solution for the Library's space problems, but they are open to other ways of solving those problems. Realizing that a solution will be expensive and will have to be funded at least in part by private donations, the Library Trustees have established the Library Building Fund to collect donations for a future building project, whatever form it might take, either using the old school or following an entirely different plan. Donations to the Ashland Town Library Building Fund can be mailed to the Library at PO Box 660, Ashland NH 03217, left at the Library, or paid by credit card though PayPal on the Library website, www.ashlandtownlibrary.org.

As a kickoff to the fund raising campaign, the Library will hold a free concert featuring popular musician Art Harriman on the Library lawn at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 17. Bring your own seating. Any donations to the Building Fund will be greatly appreciated.