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Significant Improvement

It isn’t always the case that a second chance presents itself, but on Tuesday, Feb. 7, Madison voters will have another opportunity to embrace a much-needed renovation of the Scranton Memorial Library.

Eight years ago, a previous library referendum fell victim to the worst economic environment since the Great Depression. Since then, the library has reassessed both its space requirements and the level of financial support requested of our town’s taxpayers. In both areas there is significant improvement.

There is no doubt that more space is needed—not to expand our collection of books, but to provide a variety of meeting and study rooms that are in constant demand. Along with more space for people and programs, the new plan also includes a parking lot with room for about 45 cars.

Regarding the library’s efforts to reduce the financial burden of our taxpayers, two items are of particular note. First, the library’s board has worked closely with our architects to preserve and utilize existing buildings on library property, which will significantly minimize expensive new construction requirements. Second, the board has made an unprecedented effort to seek out grant opportunities and individual donors to support the library project. To date these efforts have succeeded in raising more than one-third of the total funding required.

In 2008 the library sought $13.3 million in Town bonding support. This year we will be asking the town to bond $9.1 million, more than $4 million less.

This is indeed a second chance for Madison residents to address our long-standing need for a modern, efficient state-of-the-art library home. We must not let this opportunity pass by. I encourage your readers to vote to support the library referendum on Tuesday, Feb. 7.

John James

Madison