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Chester Library Committee Gets Preview of Possibilities

Drayton Fair and Kathleen Bartels, principal architects from Lerner Ladds and Bartels (LLB of Pawtucket Rhode Island, made the trip to Chester Sept. 2 to present the Chester Library Building Committee with some preliminary conceptual designs for the new library building, which is slated to be built at the 22 acre North Quarter Park.

The preliminary designs call for a one-story building, slightly under 8,000 square feet, set back a little bit from the main roads. According to Fair, the single-story concept is being explored because it is less expensive to construct and, given the staffing of the library, one story is easier to maintain and more appropriate to supervise.

Environmental aspects were taken into consideration for this design. The building’s location on the site accounts for prevailing winds and sunlight track, and the design maximizes park views from inside the building.

“We are very excited about this library project,” said Fair, who calls town libraries the anchor points of many communities. “We are currently in the middle of the schematic design work in conjunction with the Library Building Committee in Chester and we are working to bring a wonderful community building to this area of town, one that will meet the needs of the Chester.”

“I think LLB gave a very nice presentation and I think it went well,” said Chester Library Director Linda Fox. “I am happy to see progress being made, as is the committee, and I felt like it was a productive meeting. Now we need to look at whether this building is enough space for our various programs.”

The current library, which was built in 1907, was deemed significantly undersized for the needs of the town. At 2,000 square feet, it lacks a community room cannot comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, among other detriments.

Late last year, Chester’s application for a $1 million Library Construction Grant was approved by the State Library Board, earmarking funds to be used to assist with building a new, larger, ADA-compliant library. The grant gives the town three years to develop construction plans and secure additional local funding for the project.

LLB will be back in Chester on Wednesday, Oct. 7 for the next Library Building Committee meeting, which is open to the public.