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Whatever the Choice

This week the Library Building Committee will be giving public presentations on their plan. I would encourage as many people as possible to go and express their opinion.

People should ask questions, look carefully, and get the facts. This is a very expensive proposal that will affect everyone for many years. The development of the North Quarter Park (NQP) plan was the task of this committee. There are other plans and options available, including staying at the current, iconic library building, possibly with a modest renovation and keeping and improving NQP as an open space park; or locating the library in the historic Good’s C&G building in the center of downtown, which has many attractive advantages and more space. The costs of these plans should also be presented to the public, evaluated, and compared in this major decision.

There is also the NQP design. Do you think this is a suitable design and style for the site, and for this small historic town?

The Good’s building, the library building, and the Meeting House are historic structures that define and contribute to the character of Chester. The town will lose ownership of the current library building if it is not used as a library. What will become of it then?

Do we even need a new large library? This will be another municipal building with perpetual costs. Perhaps the new library plan will turn out to be the favored option. Whatever the choice, we will all pay for it, so it should be carefully considered by as many residents as possible, so I encourage your readers to make themselves heard!

Karin Badger

Chester

Karin Badger serves on the Chester Library Board of Trustees.