THE KEENE PUBLIC LIBRARY BUILDING PROJECT

by Charlotte Lesser, Head of Youth & Community Services

On May 3, 1999 the Keene Public Library reopened the doors of a newly renovated, expanded, and refurbished building to the public. The project incorporated both the renovation of the historic Thayer Building, an 1860 Victorian mansion, and its 1912 Symonds addition, and the construction of a new two-story addition. The project increased the size of the library from 29,000 square feet to 41,000 square feet. The architectural firm of A. Anthony Tappe and Associates from Boston created the design and the construction firm of The Macmillin Company, located in Keene, were the project managers. The total cost of the project was $4 million, and funding for the project was obtained through the City of Keene's Capital Improvement Program and was financed over several years, from design funding in 1996-97, to two years of construction financing from 1997-1999.

The actual building construction lasted 14 months, from March 1998-May 1999, during which the library moved into a temporary space located in the downtown area. The library stored about 10% of its collection while in its temporary quarters. Library service was only interrupted for one week while the collection and furnishings were moved.

An exciting and virtually forgotten discovery during the renovation was a barrel-vaulted, ribbed ceiling with skylights in the Symonds addition that had been hidden by a dropped ceiling in the 1950s. The architects adapted the plans to celebrate the discovery. The project also renovated the 3rd floor of the historic mansion, which had been unused since 1980, allowing the technical services department to move upstairs and freeing up several rooms in the historic mansion for use as meeting or reading rooms. The new two-story addition houses the adult book collection on the first floor and the Youth Department upstairs.

The library was closed the last two weeks of April 1999 to facilitate the move back into its new space. An official dedication took place on June 12, 1999 with library staff and trustees, city and state officials, and the general public present. The Honorable Clesson Blaisdell, Senate President for the State of New Hampshire, gave the dedication address. Refreshments and tours delighted the visitors that day. In addition to celebrating the new facility, the library was also celebrating its 100th birthday of being housed in the Thayer building which was dedicated as a library in May 1899.

The newly remodeled library, with its fine blending of 19th and 20th century architecture symbolizes the important role that Keene has always bestowed on its library services. With the library's architecturally sensitive renovation and addition, Keene has honored and supported traditional library services while positioning the library for the 21st century. As a Keene Sentinel editorial on May 7, 1999 stated "Wisely, it (the city government) understood what a library can mean to a community - a place for ideas, discovery, and, as was said at the dedication in 1899, "a treasure vault of mental coin". Here's to that vault in its new form, and to the library users, staff, trustees, and taxpayers who can take pride in the transformation. A job well-done."