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In the spring of 2004 ground breaking took place for Howe Library's long-anticipated expansion and remodeling project. Howe Library - a partnership of the Howe Library Corporation and the Town of Hanover - has been a valuable community resource that has enriched the lives of local residents of all ages for over 100 years. The Library is a department of the Town, funded with tax dollars for operating expenses (personnel, collections, maintenance). The Corporation is a non-profit organization, not a department of the Town; its role is that of raising capital for buildings, special enhancements, and endowment. Howe Library's long-range planning and community surveys, beginning with a long-range planning report in 1986, and including a space utilization study in 1992, a long-range plan in 1996 and updates to the long-range plan in 1999 and 2002, have reaffirmed the key roles of the Howe Library and have reflected the increasing needs for programs and services that, in turn, require additional space. A master facilities plan in 1997, continually updated by community and staff input, has provided ongoing information on program needs. Howe's participation on the Public Facilities Committee that included Dartmouth College, Hanover and Norwich select board members, Dresden School board and the community center task force, helped to define more clearly the roles for Howe Library and other community resources in relation to one another. The surveys, reports and community input that have identified program needs have, in turn, defined the scope of the expansion and renovation of the present library building. The project is driven primarily by repeated requests from patrons for: expanded children's materials and programming; more books and materials; more seating; additional public access computers; and quiet areas for study and reading. In addition, the rapidly changing technological environment and quick acceptance of online resources by patrons requires space to accommodate automated services and upgraded infrastructures for technology. The Howe Library Trustees have approved a plan for a major expansion and renovation of the present facility to ensure that children and adults will have the library resources they need now and well into the 21st century. The architect of the current building, Gerrit Zwart, in association with the firm Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott of Boston, has designed an expansion that meets the stated program needs and complements the original architecture of the building. An addition of 12,000 gross square feet to the present building of 18,000 square feet will greatly increase the Youth Services area for children and young teens, in particular, as well as providing improved space for needs such as collections, reader seating, and public access computers. The estimated total project cost is $5 million. The Howe Library Trustees have initiated a capital campaign to raise the funds to support the project. With endowment funds added for the expanded operating costs of a larger facility, the total project fundraising goal is $5.5 million. By agreement with the Town of Hanover, the Howe Library Corporation will assume, through endowment funds, the additional operating costs resulting from the building program. Groundbreaking took place in May of 2004 and a gala grand opening celebration was held in October of 2005. |
