Library Deal ‘Exactly What We Needed’

A new chapter has begun for the Harrison Library—one that will be written over the next 14 months.

After negotiating a deal last month, town and library officials officially approved an agreement at a town board meeting last week.

"I think it's fantastic, it's exactly what we needed," said Ross Halperin, head of the library foundation and one of the top advocates for the project. "We have a timeframe, we have two-thirds of the money we need, and we have all the constituencies working together."

The discussion among town residents and officials was long, he agreed. "We got to a place where everybody is comfortable."

With the town's $1.1 million commitment, there's $2.4 million in hand already; they will spend the rest of this year fundraising to get the rest of the way to the project's $3.6 million pricetag, he said. "We have a June 2014 start date for construction."

Library foundation members are now planning fundraising events and activities for the rest of 2013—the plan is to raise the remaining $1.2 million needed for the new Harrison Library before the shovels go into the ground next year.

Library director Galina Chernykh said she’s thrilled, relieved, excited—and just a little bit daunted.

“There's a lot of work ahead. We’ve been anticipating this for so long,” she said. “It was almost like waiting for the arrival of a new baby or buying a house—there’s going to be new life, a brighter future here.”

Chernykh said she’s especially excited about having a dedicated space for children.

“Our early childhood programs are so popular and we will be able to improve upon what we do now. We won’t have to ask children to be so quiet and we’ll have more for them to see, do and touch,” she said.

She said the library already served as a destination for the town, and after the renovations it could be an even bigger community resource—a destination after work and home, where people can see films, view art, read books and socialize.

“It’s the beginning of the beginning,” she said.