The historic Ilsley Public Library renovation project kicked off in March and is expected to be completed next fall, just in time to ring in the new school year.
While the main site remains closed, Middlebury residents can enjoy library facilities and programming at its temporary location on the first floor of the Duclos building on 30 Main Street, a space granted to them by the National Bank of Middlebury. This temporary space allows the library to remain easily accessible to residents, as it is in close proximity to public transport systems and local schools.
“We had known for a while that we would require space to keep library services going, and were preferably looking for a place downtown,” current President of Ilsley’s Board of Trustees Meg Baker said.
The space, dubbed ‘Mini Ilsley,’ houses much of the library’s books and CD collections, while providing adequate room for work sessions and common spaces.
“The space is truly wonderful — very light filled and open,” Director of the Ilsley Dana Hart said. “There is no real separation between age groups, nor is there a fully quiet space for silent reading ,which may not be the most ideal for a library, but is balanced out by the vibrancy of inter-generational mixing.”
Joe McVeigh, the chair of the Ilsley 100 Project, shared that issues with the functionality of the children’s section was a key factor in determining the need for the library’s renovation. Previously, the children’s room was housed in the basement of the Ilsley building, with very few windows and a growing mold problem.
“The best thing about the new space is that the children are right in front,” McVeigh said. “There’s a lot more activity and inter-mingling that was missing earlier and in the new design, the children’s room is going to be the first thing you see when you enter the door.”
McVeigh said that there were many new changes planned that patrons should look forward to. The renovated library will include new spaces for outdoor programming, such as a rooftop garden that could potentially be used for group meetings or yoga sessions.
The new design will also replace the former library entrance, which required individuals to climb steps. Additionally, three new entry and exit points will be added at convenient, accessible locations throughout the building. However, the original entrance will continue to exist as it has for over a hundred years.
“It was very important to the people of Middlebury that we not mess with that,” McVeigh said.
Since March, a third of the work has been completed, with underground utilities in place and work on the interior steel structure ongoing. However, a recent challenge arose where the roof of the library needed to be replaced, requiring additional funding.
“We were really fortunate to get a $100,000 grant almost immediately upon announcing the need for a roof repair,” Baker said.
Donations are still always welcome, and patrons can look for more information about how to contribute early in the new year.
In terms of community building and recreation, Mini Ilsley has endeavoured to continue its many programs, and students from the college have been able to continue work study at the new location.
The most drastic change in Ilsley’s operations has been in the roles of its librarians.
“We are all working a hybrid schedule,” Hart said. “Most of us divide our time working between the bank building, our own homes and the Little Seed coffee shop down the street.”
Another new addition to their roles as librarians has been in overseeing the transfer and collection of books between Mini Ilsley, and a storage facility in Vergennes where collections that could not be shelved in the Duclos building are temporarily housed.
“We have librarians going up to Vergennes on a daily basis to page books. Community members can come in and request a book in person, which librarians then bring in,” Baker said.
“Each morning we run a list of books that were requested, and we get about 25-50 requests a day,” Hart said. “It’s a system that’s been working really well, we’re fortunate for that.”
Both the library and the bank currently share the same opening and closing times, primarily for logistical and security reasons. However, community members can expect a return to Ilsley’s regular closing hours once the main site is functional again next year.
“While there is really no overlap in our workspaces, we do have the ability to utilize the bank’s break room, with the bank’s employees also participating in a bonus book club with us,” Hart said.
While community members should anticipate many exciting additions to the main building, there remain numerous opportunities to connect with fellow patrons and community members at Mini Ilsley as renovations continue into the next year.
