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Letter: Keeping Original Library Building ‘Would Be A Huge Mistake’
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To the Editor:
I would like to express my enthusiastic support for the library rejuvenation project. While I have extremely fond memories as a small kid going into the old library (even before the “current renovation” in 1979) to participate in the summer reading program and get a continual source of reading material, I recognize that the time for upgrading the physical facility of our amazing library has long been upon us. While it would be nice to be able to keep one foot in the old and one in the new, I believe that doing so in for this building would be a huge mistake. There would essentially be nothing left of the existing structure if we choose to attempt to preserve it. Even attempting to preserve any substantive part of it would cost millions of dollars (as a builder, I understand how expensive it is to even attempt to bring antiquated structures up to modern standards for air quality and accessibility) and would result in what could only kindly be called a far from optimal new structure. While I do not like to play a “keeping up with the Jones” game on town facilities, I would challenge anyone to visit the relatively recently (past 15 years) completed libraries of our neighboring towns such as Darien, Westport or Ridgefield that are our competition for new residents. I would submit that most people would consider our current library buildings to be an active negative against our community and certainly not a positive. I firmly believe that the new library facility will greatly enhance the opportunities for our town to be a leading example of a community dedicated to continual learning. The contribution from the town in this period of extremely low interest rates will more than pay for itself over the next few decades while enhancing the lives of our residents. Scott Hobbs