FVGLA' s Barney Library Grant Celebration:
the first step to success
An open house/press conference and celebration was held with Public Officials, Friends, colleagues and fellow citizens at the Barney Branch Library on Thursday Evening December 6th. I would especially like to thank those who were able to attended: State Senator Jonathan Harris and Representative Demetrios Giannaros along with Town Councilors Michael V. Demicco, William A. Wadsworth, Councilor-elect, Mark Fey, Town Clerk Paula Ray and School Board Chair, Mary Grace Reed with Vice-Chair/Secretary Nancy Nickerson. Library Chairman, Bill Hayhurst, FVGLA Chairman Mike Andreas, Treasurer, Michael Schloss, Library Board members: Andy Baron, Alan Coykendall, Karen Williard, Kathy Piccirillo, Alan Sherman.
State Library Board member Mary Etter, Connecticut Library Consortium Executive Director Christine Bradley and a host of Library, FVGLA board members along with many friends and supporters attended this defining event
The celebration punctuated the state library's green light on the Barney Branch Library Improvements and Renovations Project for a $1,000,000 Library construction grant. The State funded grant proposal must be voted favorably upon by the State Bond commission later on during the month. The Farmington Delegation consisting of: State Senators Donald DeFronzo and Jonathan Harris with State Representatives Beth Bye and Demetrious Giannaross each have supported the project and all look forward to its success. Please keep posted for further developments regarding the exciting fund raising events we are in the process of planning along with other opportunities to become involved in the Barney project.
About the Project
The Barney Branch library constitutes an architecturally precious reminder of the past grounding us in those traditions which are Farmington today. The Library was built in 1918 with three levels serving patrons entering at the East side on the main level of the building. Architecturally, the building is neoclassical with a grand pediment, generous cornice and frieze supported by four Ionic columns on a wonderful portico looking out over the historic green and on to Miss Porters School.
The principal rationale for the project is to meet current ADA requirements, and improve HVAC and other systems that are inadequate to current efficiency and ergonomic standards. Particularly, the current physical layout of the building presents difficulties for wheelchair users, the elderly, and mothers with strollers, and those who are physically challenged. Furthermore, the book stacks are often too close together to allow access to the physically challenged and the additional classes listed above.
The need for an elevator and the removal of the antiquated exterior iron fire escape and the addition of a safe interior stairway to provide access to both the upper and lower levels of the building is critical to the Library’s efficient operation. Currently, without an elevator the use of the upper level meeting room and the lower level program space in not feasible for public programming.
The project is estimated at three million with:
- One million by a Connecticut State Library construction grant.*
- One million by referendum.
- One million by fund raising.
