RUMFORD – The Rumford Public Library Growth Committee reaffirmed its decision Thursday to pursue construction of a new library as the committee met with its newest member, Town Manager Steve Eldridge.
He agreed to use his skills in grant-writing to work with the committee.
“This (the library) is a very valuable asset to the community,” he said. “Rumford is on the verge of growth.”
He noted later that the wants of Rumford are very great, citing requests for downtown revitalization, historic renovation and infrastructure improvement.
“Money is very tight. The community as a whole has to participate in the projects they want,” he said.
The committee, loosely formed nearly five years ago, held the public informational meeting to update the community on where it is with plans and to appeal for greater membership.
Jonathan Ross, a computer consultant who joined the committee Thursday, said anything that furthers the growth of technology is important.
“If you impede progress and change, you’ll be left behind,” he said.
Not everyone favors building a new library.
Marie Boudreau, a library trustee who said she was speaking for herself, is among them.
“I am not in favor and never have been. I am aware of the necessity for improvement and there are many ways to improve,” she said.
Curtis Rice, who said one of the reasons he moved to Rumford was its unique architecture, said he was concerned that a new building wouldn’t fit in.
Karl Aromaa, the librarian, said the vintage 1903 Carnegie library is a “fabulous” building that was built for the site. However, he said its original structure has been 50 percent compromised by a renovation many years ago and another major renovation would leave only 20 percent of the original building, including relocation of the main entrance to the side of the library.
He said a new building, tentatively planned for the Penobscot Street site where Stephens High School once stood, would have to be architecturally significant and appropriate.
Studies conducted during the past couple of years have shown that the library needs include technological updating, additional space for books and meetings, and more parking space.
Committee Chairwoman Kathy Sutton said the next steps are finding money for creation of an architectural plan for a new building and the development of a leadership committee to oversee a capital fund-raising campaign. Whether that will begin this year has yet to be determined.
Using a $10,000 Betterment grant and $5,000 from the library trustees, interviews were conducted last year with 32 potential donors. Sutton said of the 32 interviewed, 60 percent favored a new building.
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