The Brookfield Library Board of Trustees will host a Public Information Session on Thursday, October 12, 2017 at 7 p.m. at the Brookfield High School auditorium, along with their consultants from Doyle Coffin Architecture, LLC of Ridgefield. The information session will provide a project overview and history along with a visual presentation about the proposed new library design and site. There will be opportunity for public comment and questions.
A new Brookfield library has been more than 15 years in the making. Libraries of the 21st century provide a myriad of services that support lifelong learning, access to technology, digital and information literacy, community engagement, work and study space, and collections that guarantee hours of reading and viewing pleasure. “The existing library facility is too small to accommodate these services, and no longer meets the needs of the community,” says Library Director Yvonne Cech.
Brookfield’s New Library Committee, chaired by long-time resident Christina Cumberton, asks residents to imagine a new library that will become a community destination and gathering place featuring dedicated space for children and teens, quiet study space, space for exploration, collaboration and learning, expanded meeting space, improved accessibility for handicapped patrons, enhanced technology access, and ample parking.
Approximately 100,000 people visit the library each year. In 2016, more than 12,000 people attended a children’s or adult program and more than 10,000 items were checked out monthly. A new Brookfield Library will allow the Town to meet the community’s library needs more effectively and efficiently. Recent studies show that library usage increases dramatically when communities invest in their libraries to create space that supports the way people work and study today.
library. This grant approval expires in March 2018. The Library Board of Trustees and New Library Committee will seek taxpayer support for a new library in a Town Referendum in early 2018.
In May 2016, First Selectman Dunn assembled a Committee comprised of current and former members of the Library Board of Trustees, Board of Finance, Zoning Commission, a local real estate developer, and town residents. “All members of the Committee possessed in-depth knowledge of library requirements, real estate values, approvals processes, finance, and construction. All were dedicated to doing the best job possible for Brookfield,” said committee member Pete Peterson, a former member of the Brookfield Board of Finance.
Following an exhaustive review of potential sites for a new library, the Town Library Location Ad Hoc Committee, the Town’s architect and consultants, and Library Board of Trustees identified a site at Brookfield’s Municipal Town Hall campus as the location for the new library. This site has natural synergies with existing civic buildings, offering ease of access for families, older adults and those who frequent the Still River Greenway.
All Brookfield residents are encouraged to attend the Information Session on October 12th at 7:00 p.m. at the Brookfield High School Auditorium, located at 45 Longmeadow Hill Road.
For questions, please contact the Library Director, Yvonne Cech.