CASTLETON LIBRARY
Last Fall there was a well attended (between 50-60 people), public meeting in the Castleton Town Hall to discuss the re-opening of the Castleton Library. The response was overwhelming and absolutely positive. It was obvious that everyone wanted the Castleton Library to be reopened.
Ideas, suggestions and comments flowed and so many people were forthcoming with ways to upgrade and expand the services offered by the Library. The meeting was organized and also attended by the Colborne Library Board. Comments and ideas were duly recorded. Volunteers were asked to come forward and form an interest group.
A couple of weeks later such a group of local residents and members of the Colborne Library Board met in the old library and discussed a list of items to be addressed before the library could be re-opened. This list included the removal of walls, new carpeting and lighting, installation of computers, shelving, a childrens area, heritage area and a notice board outside the building. Again notes were taken and a 'wish list' created.
Weeks later a group met and packed books that were then removed to Colborne.
Unfortunately nothing transpired. Nothing was reported, no minutes distributed and there was silence. Christmas came and disappeared. Winter droned on.
Then, a couple of weeks ago, a meeting was called to discuss the Library, with a different group of attendees. None of the original group was contacted. Again, no minutes have been distributed from this meeting.
However, a recent article in the new Northumberlandtoday.com newspaper indicated that the possible cost of $100,000 to re-open the Castleton Library is not worth the expense, especially when - as the article explains - "And for ten months of the year, children in the area will be served by the library at the school being built in the hamlet later this year".
Somehow, adult users of the Library were not mentioned. Also, "there appears to be so little interest in the .. branch". However, it now appears that these comments were not 'official' and therefore should be disregarded.
Surely, we do not need to go overboard to re-open the Library (remember the concept of spending $1m to put an addition on to the Town Hall). Perhaps the proposed or suggested costs can be broken down and reviewed.
Perhaps we can organize some fundraising! Perhaps we can discuss a reduced rate with our contractors! Perhaps we can reach out for contributions! Perhaps we could form a volunteer group of young and old from our local community ! Perhaps we need to take one step at a time !
This is such a golden opportunity to reclaim our Library. With the new school we hope the area will expand and more use will follow, for both the Library and the Town Hall.
There are so many programmes that could be organized for both young and old using both the Library and the upstairs. From Book Clubs to Literacy programmes, winter fun and March Break sessions as well as summer ideas to keep children busy. With the newly constructed lower entrance the Library will be more accessible to all.
To this end I ask if anyone is interested in the formation of a group - perhaps called 'Friends of Castleton Library', FOCL, (Focal !) - to discuss the ways and means of the project to re-establish the Library.
May I suggest that we begin with only local residents with no ties to Cramahe Council or local Library Boards . This way we can see if interest has waned since last year.
At the same time we could review all the notes todate, the Council requirements to update the facilities, what monies is actually on hand at Council in reserve and what is of prime importance to have a viable Library.
If possible may I suggest a meeting. If interested, or you have any comments, please contact me . Depending upon the response I will gladly host the meeting or we can 'book' the Library area. Please, let's see what can be done - remember, there really is life north of the 401 and it is up to us !
Graham Norcutt, at 344-7000 or gnorcutt@airnet.ca
Tuesday 5 May 2009
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The Library Board reported to Council on January 13, 2009 re. the fall meetings at the Castleton Library regarding the reopening of the library. The following is a copy of that presentation made by Board Treasurer Marie Prins.
ReplyDeleteUpdate on Castleton Library from Library Board
Presentation to Cramahe Council
13 January 2009
On September 16, 2008, two members of the library board met with 10 Castleton residents to discuss the possible restoration of the Castleton Library. A prior meeting on the 10th with a larger group of residents (50) had determined that the community was interested in reopening the library as soon as possible. Many people signed volunteer lists to help clean and pack books, to volunteer in the actual work of restoring the library, and to volunteer to work in the library or to donate books. At the meeting on the 16th, we discusses the reconfiguration of the rooms, replacing the carpeting and lighting, addressing the humidity problem, and various other renovation issues.
At subsequent Board meetings in September through December, various options have been discussed at length to fund any and all renovations. These include using surplus money from the 2008 budget, which will be placed in reserve for this purpose, applying for a Trillium grant for specific aspects of the renovation, i.e. the humidity issue, and asking Council to fund the remaining capital costs to the building. The library will use its reserves to purchase new computers, to refurnish a children’s room, to purchase a new circulation desk, and to purchase any necessary new shelving and furniture for the library. After an initial consultation with Natalie Moroz-Connell in September, a total cost of $30-40, 000. for this project was suggested, although such a figure would not adequately meet the humidity issue.
Since the September meeting, a volunteer group has packed and moved about 1/2 of the books to the Fire Truck Room at the Colborne library. Hopefully, the remaining books will be shipped there shortly. During the December Board meeting, at which Marc Coombs was present, a discussion ensued around the necessity of the members of the Castleton community taking ownership of this project. In order for it to move forward, a working committee or group needs to be formed, spear-headed by one or two individuals from this community who will coordinate the funding as well as the restoration project in cooperation with the Library Board and the Township. Efforts are being made now by Marc Coombs and the Board find a leader and to organize a group of Castleton residents to move this project towards completion in 2009.
Marie Prins
Since this report was made to Council, Marc Coombs has held 2 meetings with Castleton residents to gather input on their ideas for the Castleton library. In addition, Marie Prins met with Nathalie Moroz-Cornell and Lorna Houston, the Colborne librarian, to discuss renovation ideas. The minutes for the first meeting Feb 2) with M. Coombs and the meeting (Feb 13) with Nathalie & Lorna are as follows -
Castleton Library Meetings
February 2, 2009 – Meeting at the library with Marc Coombs, Marie Prins (Library Board), and 6-8 residents of Castleton. This meeting was an opportunity for Castleton residents to share their ideas about the needs within the community for a library, its possible functions, and possible space configuration plans. The meeting began with a visit by the Girl Guides who were meeting upstairs in the Town Hall. These children shared many ideas they have about how a library could function for children – computers for homework, a good selection of books, programs in the summer, and friendly service, all ideas similar to those expressed by the adults. Everyone present felt strongly that the community needed and would use a library as there are few services available in Castleton. Computer usage is high on the list. They also would like a friendly, warm atmosphere in which people could relax and read newspapers and magazines as well as books. One young mother really wants a place to bring her young child for regular outings and exposure to good books. All seemed comfortable with ideas put forward for a satellite library that featured new fiction & non-fiction, magazines, newspapers, talking books, and DVDs, plus a decent selection of children’s books. High-speed, wireless internet service is a top priority. The ability to access titles on line, and borrow & return books from the Colborne library through the Castleton library were also well received. Of course, everyone had ideas about space configuration, which door to use as the main entrance, where the Heritage Cramahe materials should be displayed, a good space for the computers, etc. All agreed that the space needs to be opened up as much as possible. In the end, one woman volunteered to tour local libraries and take pictures so that ideas could be pursued at a future meeting, which Marc Coombs will arrange as soon as possible.
February 13, 2008 – Meeting at the library with Natalie Moroz-Cornell, Lorna Houston, and Marie Prins to discuss space configuration. Natalie believes that many of the interior walls can be removed and the wiring and some ducts re-routed to open up the space as much as possible. After some discussion, we propose that the main entrance to the library be the stairs, which need to be stripped of carpeting and sided with sturdy handrails. New, secure doors are a must. Lorna suggested that the wall at the bottom of the stairs (and the closets) be removed so that the area used by Heritage Cramahe (old board room) could be integrated into the library space. The children’s room would remain where it is, except that its west wall would be removed and its north wall moved out into the back entrance space by approximately three feet. The inside door from this entrance area should be moved 2-3 feet north, in order to be more in line with the outside door. The wall should remain to lessen the amount of cold air entering the library in the winter. The rest of the library can be opened up with the circulation desk placed at the bottom of the stairs on its south side. The small area behind it could be opened a bit to incorporate that space into the rest of the library. The support walls under the balcony need to remain in place. When all this work is finished, the actual placement of the bookshelves and computers can be decided.
Natalie has asked Council for $40 000. for these renovations, a figure that may be adequate to accomplish everything. The library Board may be asked to pay for any carpeting, painting of walls, and all furniture. Hopefully the lighting can be upgraded so that the actual bulbs are friendlier and all fixtures point in the same direction. Nothing was discussed about the humidity issues. We may have to plan for a Phase A and a Phase B renovation. The latter could include upgrading the furnace to accommodate air conditioning and could be financed by a Trillium grant. Heritage Cramahe should be contacted and consulted about their needs in this space. At this point, the old board room seems a good fit.
Both of the above reports were emailed to Marc Coombs who brought them to the April 28th meeting in Castleton that was called to establish a Task Force to get the ball rolling on this project. Please keep in mind that Council needed to approve funding for the renovations of the basement of the Town Hall before any plans to reopen the library could move forward. This funding was approved by Council on April 7, 2009. Presently the Library Board is discussing how best to proceed with the monumental task of organizing the books and the space once the renovations are completed. The Board is hoping that the Library can reopen in the Fall of 2009 if funding is made available to hire a librarian for the remaining Fall months of 2009. If this funding is not approved by Council, then the Board will ask for this funding for 2010, and, hopefully the library will be able to reopen no later than January 2010.
This information has been submitted by Marie Prins to clarify the decisions and proceedings of the Board and Council since September 2008 regarding the restoration of a library in Castleton.