Now is the time to build a new library due to grant funding and Sharon’s needs. Today’s community library is not simply a repository for books, magazines and videos, but a resource for information, literacy, lifelong enrichment and social interaction.
Top reasons to contribute to the Sharon Public Library Foundation:
To offset the town’s portion – The state will give Sharon $7,485,943 million towards a $17,750,628 million dollar library leaving the town to fund $10.26 million. Other towns have successfully raised in excess of $1 million towards their portion. Foundation funds will be used toward Sharon’s remaining share. You can help lower the funding requirement.
The building is not large enough for our town – Based on the current circulation, population and services offered, this library is 50% too small by national and state standards. The current library is 10,500 sq. ft. following an addition in 1979 to accommodate a town of 8,000. We are now over 18,000 and the current building is not large enough to house programming, collections, technology, and meeting room spaces required in a 21st century library. Library use and program attendance has increased by 6,000 attendees this past year.
Parking – The new library will have 31 dedicated library parking spaces. That is 31 spaces more than the current library.
The Library is an emergency port-in-the-storm warming, cooling and technology center for Sharon – Power is out where do you go? The library! The new library will have more space for people in crisis with electricity and access to the internet.
The only public building that directly services every resident in town six days a week. Unlike town hall, a school, or a public safety building, the library is the only public building in Sharon that welcomes every person from infants to the elderly with programming, materials, and staff that is available for questions and advice on everything from book selection to how to use your smartphone. And this all comes at a lower cost than any of the other buildings.
The new library will be ADA compliant. The current library cannot accommodate wheelchairs in the stacks for people who would like to browse the collection. Hearing and sight impaired patrons do not have the necessary equipment to make full use of the library.
Sharon has a reputation of being a highly literate community. Investing in the library makes a statement about Sharon’s commitment to literacy, culture and access to information and education.
