Busy Laconia library keeping up with planned renovations

LACONIA — Renovations at the Laconia Public Library are humming along, councilors learned at a budget meeting on Monday night. 

The Laconia Public Library's Gale Memorial Library building is located on Church Street downtown.

Napoleon Bonaparte Gale, a local banker who died in 1894, in his will designated part of his fortune to be left to the city to build a park and memorial building that would be home to a public library and historical museum. That building was constructed at the turn of the century and dedicated on June 9, 1903, nearly 122 years preceding this writing.

The building, constructed in the Romanesque Revival architectural style, features rock-faced masonry, heavy arches and broad roofs. Builders used both Deer Island and New Brunswick granite, oak paneling and stained-glass windows. 

An addition to the building was constructed in 1957, designed by Prescott & Erickson and built by Rolfe Camp Company. It created enough space for a children’s room, an auditorium and a workspace for library staff. Second-floor stacks were added in 1972.

When the 1957 addition was deteriorating, a successful fundraising campaign in 2003 led to another renovation, which saw the library transformed into the building it is today. It’s a large, historic building, sometimes considered among the city’s “crown jewels”. The 2005 renovation, which was bonded out as well, was completed successfully. That bond happened to retire this year. 

Nearly a year ago last summer, councilors moved forward on a $300,000 bond to fund necessary maintenance projects at the library. Work to be completed included the repointing of mortar joints on the century-old building’s facade, the replacement of a skylight, repairs to the roof and a chimney located on the structure’s south-side and window trim, among other items. 

The total cost of renovations totaled $360,000, and much of that sum was for repairs to granite features on the facade. The second-largest portion of the project had to do with repairs to the roof. 

Library Director Deann Hunter told councilors about $115,000 of the bond project had been done, mostly exterior masonry and roofing. They’ve got another $101,000 in work in progress on additional roofing work and plaster.

“The remaining fund will certainly be expended before the end of the project is complete,” Hunter said. “The funds will be used for additional masonry repairs, however these repairs will be focused on the interior of the tower, which is in need of some work, as well as exterior window trim repair and painting and resealing of the building apron.”

In total, library officials have expended about $216,000 of the $360,000 bond. 

“The vast majority of the funds will be used primarily on the building envelope,” Hunter said. “Roof, masonry, making sure that everything is in tip-top shape. The project is moving along, we haven’t really run into any surprises and we hope to continue along and get through our list of projects. 

Library Trustee John Moriarty said the project wouldn’t be referred to as “deferred maintenance” because they’ve been addressing problems as they’ve arisen. They’re keenly aware that the slate roof is 122 years old, and they’ve spent around $200,000 on small repairs. At some point, probably not within the next five years, that could pose an issue for the library. The 2005 addition is nearing the end of its 25-year life expectancy, so the library may be looking at a new roof there in about five years.

“What we’re trying to anticipate is where we’ll stand in the next two decades,” Moriarty said. “We’re trying to be as proactive and not reactive as possible with this particular treasure.” 

In other business, the library served about 109,000 people in the past 11 months, and circulation total is 93,551 to date. Laconia teenagers read over 1,200 hours during a teen summer reading program last year, and the library made approximately 200 outreach deliveries to homebound patrons so far this year. 

“That is definitely up from last year,” Hunter said.