Belmont Public Library expansion proposal price tag? $5.5M

BELMONT — The Belmont Public Library has outgrown its building, and its board of trustees and new director are bringing forward an expansion proposal to the tune of $5.5 million. The expansion would allow for more robust programming, more accessibility, and allow the library to become a hotspot for community gatherings.

“The Belmont Public Library has been around for nearly a century, the physical building, and it has been largely unchanged. We have pictures of it from opening day, and I'm sitting there looking at it going, ‘Oh, I recognize that clock, and the card catalog, and the bulletin board.’ It's amazing to see the history so preserved,” said Tricia Sturm, new executive director of the library. “But the town has grown significantly over the last century, and the library desperately needs an expansion, so that we can continue serving the community and being available, being accessible.”

Sturm was a part-time employee at the library for years, and earlier this year, threw her hat in the ring for the director role. She landed the top spot in May, and has since seen firsthand some of the improvements that could be made.

The expansion plans, assembled by SMP Architecture in Concord, who specialize in public libraries, were presented by Jason LaCombe. He was joined by Barry Beauregard from Bonnette, Page & Stone, a construction management company based in Laconia.

The proposal amounts to $5.5 million, and includes construction costs; furniture, fixture and equipment costs; final design and engineering; and an earmarked $500,000 for contingency purposes.

“We took a very reasonable, practical approach, reusing a lot of the materials that the library already has. Then we looked at final design and engineering, and the important piece is contingencies,” LaCombe said. “Planning for all the things that you haven't told us that you're going to want or need ... that we want to plan for. Right now, the total project budget with all those is $5.5 million, and that includes in that $5.5 is $500,000 of contingencies.”

Although three building options were entertained, it was decided a two-story addition would be constructed off the back of the existing building, which is located at 146 Main St., a central part of downtown.

“The intent is to create a new entryway, program space, ADA-compliant restroom, and a meeting room,” LaCombe said.

Clear sight lines are a main focus of the redesign, so library patrons have a sense of the layout, navigating with ease to the area they want to visit. It also helps provide a layer of security, so library staff have a better sense of who is in the building at all times.

The primary portion of the library — “what we call the grab-and-go section of the library: new releases, media, magazines, newspapers, computer stations ... it's the loud section” — will see improved community space, with more breathing room.

It will also improve the view of another one of Belmont’s downtown attractions: the gazebo.

“The next piece is to orient this in a way that really responds to the gazebo out there. We wanted to design a library that integrates with other public events. You could have indoor-outdoor events, and create a small outdoor space in between, where now the library starts, to serve as more than just a repository for books,” LaCombe said. “It really becomes a community center that activates this space down into the children's area.”

A few windows would need to be removed. An outdoor porch creates the possibility for an open-air environment for library patrons to do some reading.

“Again, trying to activate this community space, as well as just give people other library opportunities,” LaCombe said.

The adult reading section of the library will be housed in the new, expanded portion. Additionally, Americans with Disabilities Act requirements will be brought up to code, namely the sloping entranceway in the rear of the library leading to the current children’s area. There are a few stairs there, prohibiting accessibility. New, front-back elevators will now go to four stops.

“This would make the facility fully ADA-compliant,” he said.

Public support will be an uphill battle for the trustees and Sturm, after the town has finally come out years operating on a default budget.

“We do need to make a change to the library, especially with more kids going to, you know, home school and stuff like that. It's an over-utilized building. No one realizes how much services they do provide,” Selectboard member Travis O’Hara said. "Selling it is going to be hard. It's going to have to get bonded. So, selling it to the public is going to be tough, but we do need something.”

A public comment inquired about whether comparable studies have been conducted against towns similar in size.

“We did look at comparable libraries for our communities. Currently, we're working on an Auburn library, which is about the same size as a one-story library. Your existing library is roughly 2,200 square feet. We're adding roughly 5,300. So it's about 7,500” square feet total, LaCombe answered.

The proposal will now make its way to Town Meeting 2027 as a warrant article.

“In the months ahead, the library will continue sharing information, answering questions, and inviting community members to learn more about the project,” reads the library’s website.

For more information, visit belmontpubliclibrary.org.

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Katlyn Proctor can be reached at katlyn@laconiadailysun.com or by calling 603-524-0150.