Library Expansion- Timeline 12/2015 through present

• December 2015 – Board of Directors discussed PPL Strategic Plan and realized that our facility was limiting our services. They ask: can we expand? Can we finish the basement or attic?
• Analysis of facility
  • What is the current state of the library facility?
  • Staff focus group – what would our wish list include?
  • Mission/Needs analysis – what do we need (from our facility) to accomplish our mission
• Feb 2017 -Community Needs Survey regarding Library Services
  • Found community interest in expanding the library and offering more library programs
  • also confirmed in Town budget surveys 2018 & 2019
• CT State Library
  • Library Space Planning Guide and worksheet
  • CT Public Library Standards: Facility
• January 2018 – PPL Board recruits an Exploratory Building Committee to explore possibilities for expansion
  • Included Walt Hinchman, Fred Williams, Peter Deary, Charlie Weedon, and Library Board members Dave Ring, Ann Hinchman, Ginger Lusa, Sylvia Danenhower, Laurie Bell
  • April 2018 – Hired Evelyn Cole Smith, Architect (specializing in Historic Preservation)
  • Approached Pomfret School re. gift of land
• November 2018 – Applied for and was awarded CT State Public Library Construction Grant
  • Grant application was prepared by Evelyn Cole Smith, Architect, and Laurie Bell, Library Director
  • Grant covers 50% $(421,800) of estimated constructions costs ($843,600)
  • PPL Board has set the goal of raising $500,000 in donations (deadline: November 2021) to cover
    • Matching grant funds
    • Construction costs not covered by grant
    • Fund Raising Consultant
    • Other costs of fund raising campaign
  • February 2019 – Pomfret School Board of Trustees approves request for land donation
  • May 2019 – Town funded capital improvements
    • Septic system is installed
    • parking lot is doubled from 12 to 24 spaces
  • May 2019 – PPL Board recommends to Town that we hire RPC Associates as Fund Raising Campaign Consultant
  • September 2019 – Capital Campaign begins
    • Leadership Team: Kate Cerrone, Chair; Marc & Mary Archambault, Co-Vice Chairs; Ron Coderre, Consultant Laurie Bell, Library Director; Ginger Lusa, PPL Board Chair; Anne Miller; Ray Navarro; Dr. Steven Raheb; Nancy Weiss; Ann and Walter Hinchman
  • June 2021 – Project receives the approval of the State Historic Preservation Office
  • September 2021 – received the deed for .26 acres south of the library, gifted by Pomfret School
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Construction Grant Process:

• A CT State Library Public Library Construction Grant of $421,800 was awarded November 2018
• The funds must be matched by November 2021
• Town seeks approval of the plans from the State Historic Preservation Office
• Town requests that the State Bond Commission approve the grant, and subsequently signs a Construction Grant Contract
• After approval, we have 18 months (May 2023) to initiate the project