Date: Fri 22-Nov-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

Booth-library-FHH-relocation

Full Text:

Library Hopes To Open At Fairfield Hills

B Y A NDREA Z IMMERMANN

Last week, Julia Wasserman went to bat for the Cyrenius Booth Library and

talked to representatives of the state's Office of Policy and Management

(OPM), Department of Public Works, and the governor's office in an effort to

identify a six-month location where the library could open to the public. On

November 14, OPM verbally promised the board a building on the Fairfield Hills

campus.

The library will not pay rent, but is required by the state to have insurance

and pay for utilities.

Bill Lavery, head of the Long Range Planning Building Committee, shared the

news with other trustees at a special meeting held November 19. Acting on the

recommendation of the BTI construction contractors, Mr Lavery made a motion

that the library not move back into the Main Street location until the entire

expansion project is complete. The contractor would then be able to finish the

job by June 1, and the board would save $37,000 in costs related to moving

back into the building soon after asbestos abatement has concluded.

Another part of Mr Lavery's motion was to "use a building that the state of

Connecticut will designate for our use." A few board members expressed concern

about the poor condition of some of the FHH buildings.

Earlier in the day, library staff toured Canaan House and Stratford Hall.

Although the latter had most recently been used as a medical library for the

hospital, the now-empty building was so humid that water dripped from the

ceiling and into light fixtures.

"There's water all over the floor. We cannot go there," said Library Director

Janet Woycik.

Trustee Chris Spiro suggested they amend the motion to notify the contractor

they will remain out of the Booth Library only if a "satisfactory" site is

found where they can temporarily offer services to the public.

Mr Lavery countered that the contractor had to have an unequivocable answer

now. "If we don't find somewhere [to move to], then we're closed," he added.

"I think that's unacceptable," responded Mr Spiro.

"Julia has the best interest of the library, and I don't think Julia would

steer us wrong," said trustee Kathleen Madzula. "I think we have to give a

little trust to everybody."

The ensuing vote on the original motion resulted in only two dissenting votes.

In other business, Mrs Woycik presented a financial report that indicated both

income and expenses were down since the library closed. But there is no

question that the library is operating in the black, she added.

Part-time staff has been laid off while the library is closed; full-time staff

continues to work sorting decontaminated materials, ordering new books, and

working on special projects in the store front location on Queen Street.

The board expects to find out next week which building the state will offer

them.