The public library in town may be undergoing a dramatic change soon that college students should check out.
The Ilsley Public Library has been a cornerstone of the Middlebury community for a century. It’s time the town of Middlebury gives back to the library for all it has done — serving as a public gathering space and providing resources for the town — by passing a bond to fund its expansion and improvement.
Raising awareness and support for the project on campus is crucial to the library. Students who are registered to vote in the town of Middlebury should turn out on May 7 and vote in favor of the initiative, and those who are not registered but are interested in helping can spread the word! On May 4, there will be a pop-up event outside of Davis Family Library where students who are collaborating with the library to raise awareness about the vote will be answering questions and promoting the initiative to other students.
The Ilsley Public Library expansion is essential for the town of Middlebury. The demand for utilities and repairs of the facility is continually growing, making operations increasingly costly. Since the founding of the Library Study Committee in 2017, a plan for improving the library has been in the works, and this spring, the town of Middlebury has the opportunity to finally make this vision a reality.
The town of Middlebury is having a special election on May 7 to determine whether or not to approve a $4.5 million dollar municipal bond to fund the expansion and renovations of the library. While the total project cost is $17 million, a combination of private fundraising, grants, and government funds will cover $12.5 million of that cost. The bond is the final step to ensure that the renovations occur.
If the vote passes to fully fund the initiative, the library will undergo a transformation that will expand its facilities and programming, making it able to reach and serve more areas of the Middlebury community. Plans for the library outline a plethora of exciting additions for the town to use, including an expanded space for children, new conference and meeting rooms, additional study spaces, an outdoor gathering space and roof garden and more. New facilities will transform the old building into a perfect space for the entire community to enjoy.
The renovated library will be able to offer more engaging programs for the community. While the library already serves the community by hosting art workshops, writers’ groups, film festivals, educational presentations and children’s activities, an updated library will provide an improved gathering space, as the current one is not fulfilling the standards the library staff aims to uphold. With the expansion, the library can further enhance its position as a destination downtown, a place for hosting exhibitions, performances and cultural events for the people of Middlebury.
Middlebury students will benefit, too. Despite having two great research libraries on campus, students will find that the Ilsley Public Library can be a resource for them as well. For years, the library has fostered a positive relationship with the college, including employing college students, providing a venue for students and professors to access resources and present research, and collaborating with a number of Middlebury courses as a community partner.
Furthermore, while the building is under construction for 18 months, the National Bank of Middlebury, located just down the street from the library, has offered up one of its floors to temporarily serve as the library, so patrons can still access all its resources. If the community votes to pass the bond and fully fund the expansion, the project will break ground in the spring of 2025, and is expected to be complete in the summer of 2026.
Voting will take place at 77 Main Street, from 7 a.m, to 7 p.m. on May 7. We urge all students who are registered to vote in the town of Middlebury to vote in support of the bond, to assist the Ilsley Public Library in embarking on a new chapter. The local community and students on campus will greatly benefit if the proposed expansion passes.
