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11/23/2015 11:00 PM

Madison Library Project Nets $1 Million Grant


This 2013 architectural representation of the Scranton Library expansion proposal shows a relocated former post office building. It has been moved forward to Wall Street and in line with the Hull Building next door. The relocation allows for parking behind the library. The present concept would link the library and the Hull Building with new construction, effectively doubling the space now available for library use. Image courtesy of the Scranton Memorial Library

Plans for a multi-million dollar renovation of the E.C. Scranton Memorial Library in Madison got a major boost this week when the Connecticut State Library Board approved a $1 million construction grant for the project.

Final approval of the award, according to Library Director Beth Crowley, is contingent upon availability of matching local funding and favorable action by the State Bond Commission.

“You have three years in which to reach your local funding goal,” said Tom Newman, construction grant administrator of the Division of Library Development in a letter to Crowley.

“Once you have secured all the local funding necessary to complete your project, please contact me so that we can submit a request for Bond Commission consideration of your construction grant,” the letter stated. “Bond Commission approval sometimes takes some time. After favorable action by the State Bond Commission, we will contact you about signing a construction grant contract.”

Crowley said the overall cost of the anticipated library reconstruction project is approximately $14 million. The lion’s share of the cost—$12 million—is money that town officials are hoping to secure through a bonding initiative. The other $2 million will come from the local funding and state grant initiative.

“We are hoping to get the vote [on the bonding initiative] sometime in 2016,” said Crowley. “We are planning to make several presentations to various groups about the library plans in coming months.”

The library plan is a scaled-down version of a plan that Madison voters narrowly defeated in a 2008 referendum vote.

The current plan is significantly smaller and less costly than the plan that was rejected by voters seven years ago.