RUTLAND — For years leaders of Rutland’s public library have been saving money to renovate their historic downtown building.
Recently, however, they discovered an alternative — a larger space that will offer patrons a separate area for children, study areas and meeting rooms, off-street parking and easy access to the city’s new recreation center.
Next year the Rutland Free Library plans to move permanently to the College of St. Joseph’s former administration building, which housed the campus library. The building, about 2 miles from the current library, was renovated in 2006 and benefited from a $2 million upgrade to campus internet access in 2016.
The library, built in 1858, hasn’t had a major renovation since the 1980s. Director Randal Smathers said the new library location will be equipped to meet the modern demands of users in Rutland City, Rutland Town, Mendon, Tinmouth and Ira.
“The new home of Rutland Free Library will allow us to meet the expanding needs of our community in the 21st century,” Smathers said.
Rutland City’s current facility on Court Street was designed as a courthouse and post office. Trustees had been setting aside money for more than a decade for a projected $1.5 million renovation, but that was before library trustee Catherine Picon decided to investigate the former library at St. Joe’s.
The money that has already been set aside will cover the $1.2 million cost of the new building, saving taxpayers $750,000.
On a communitywide Zoom meeting Monday night, which included state and city officials, the library board announced that it’s “on the verge” of an initial agreement with Heartland Communities of America, which plans to build a long-term senior care facility on much of the former college campus.
Vivid memories
City officials anticipated that residents would have a variety of reactions, since many adults in Rutland have childhood memories from the library’s Court Street location.
“It comes with mixed emotions,” Rutland Mayor Dave Allaire said on Monday’s call. “I’m a lifelong resident of the city of Rutland. That library has been a fixture at its present location for my entire life. I think it’s safe to say that we all love that building.”
Library officials will solicit community feedback in a two-month engagement process with local residents. Allaire said many will miss the location, but he recognizes that it isn’t set up for the 21st century.
“This historic move will position the library for growth and success in the years to come, and literally save the taxpayers in the short term and the long term.”
With a $1.45 million bond that voters approved in November, the city recently purchased the campus athletic facility and surrounding fields, which is now a public recreation space.
While dropping off her son at a basketball practice at the city’s new recreation center, Picon wished she could read in the campus library while she waited for practice to end. Picon then thought of the voters who had urged the city to buy the center.
“If there is one thing that we learned from this response, it’s that there is a greater need in the community for places to gather, play, grow and work together,” Picon said.
Picon has six children, and the on-street parking at the current library has become an obstacle — it’s tricky to find a spot in the first place, and even when she could, she’d have to be careful while navigating street traffic with her kids.
She said the library will be close to other community assets.
“Location, location, location,” she said. “Our new library will literally be surrounded by connections to the community. To the right is the new recreation center. Behind that are sports fields and trails leading people there. On the other side, we will have access to Tuttle Hall, a newly designed space designed to host events and speakers.”
Ambitious plans
Plans for the new space include dedicated teen and children’s areas attached to the main library, with facilities and a nursing area compatible with the American With Disabilities Act, more room for the book collection, meeting rooms available for free to the public, a local history and genealogy space, and improved security.
John Weatherhogg, project manager for Heartland Communities of America, is former senior minister at Grace Congregational United Church of Christ, which abuts Rutland Free Library’s current location. On the former college campus, he said, the company plans to create independent living, assisted living and memory care suits for more than 200 seniors.
And, with the city library, “our seniors will literally be connected to 93,000-plus volumes of literature and technical journals, magazines, books and newspapers from around the world,” he said. “Who wouldn’t want to live literally connected to their city library? They’re going to be joined by a corridor.”
U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, also on the call, said he was impressed with the city for pushing forward during a pandemic.
“What I just really love is the fact that you’re not being held back, because there is this extraordinary challenge that we’re living through in this state and in this country,” he said, later adding: “What you’re doing is something that can only be done by a community that has a high level of self-confidence, and a high level of cooperation. It’s inspiring.”
