Renderings
Project Timeline
1988
Library Capital Reserve Established
Mont Vernon voted to begin saving for a new library building to meet the needs of a growing town
To see if the Town will vote to establish a Library Capital Reserve Fund under the provisions of NH RSA 35:1 for the purpose of the expansion of the Daland Memorial Library and to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000.00 to be placed in this fund
Saving has paid off. The Library Capital Reserve now includes:
Town Appropriations $164,002
Daland Trust Contributions $150,000
Past Expenditures -$83,824
Earned Interest $142,006
Balance 12/31/2021 $368,183
1997
Land Purchased
Mont Vernon voted to purchase land for a new cemetery and a new library near Carleton Pond
“To see if the Town will vote to dissolve the Daland Memorial Library Capital Reserve Fund and to see if the town will raise and appropriate an amount (not to exceed $140,000) equal to the balance of said fund less $30,000 to establish a new Library Capital Reserve Fund to be used for the expansion of the Library, including, as necessary, the purchase of land and/or land development, the construction of roadways and parking areas, construction of additions or structures, moving of the existing structure, the purchase of equipment, and other costs incidental to the library expansion. To further see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of $30,000 for the purpose of acquiring a site for the library expansion and the expenses incidental thereto.”
2015
Charitable Foundation Formed
Library lovers formed the Mont Vernon Library Charitable Foundation—a tax exempt 501(c)(3) in order to able to raise private funds.
The Mont Vernon Library Charitable Foundation was conceived in 2014 and approved by the IRS in 2015. Not only does MVLCF provide a way for townspeople to support the project with tax-deductible donations, but it also serves as a vehicle for applying for grants from government agencies and other private foundations.
The MVLCF is a nonprofit, volunteer organization dedicated to raising and managing funds for the enhancement and capital improvement of the public library of Mont Vernon, New Hampshire.
2016
Building Study Initiated
Mont Vernon voted to conduct a study to address the future of Town Hall, the McCollom Building and the Library Building
“To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) for the purposes of conducting comprehensive engineering and architectural building studies and to develop a multi-year plan to address building deficiencies of the Mont Vernon Town Hall, McCollom Building and Daland Memorial Library or take any other action thereto. Said appropriations to be raised through general taxation, grants and/or donations. This special warrant article will be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7, VI and will not lapse until the purpose is completed or by December 31, 2017, whichever is sooner.”
2018
Needs Assessment Update
Library Building Consultant, Patience Jackson, was hired by the Library Trustees to update the 2008 Library Needs Assessment in the spring of 2018. The 36 page document assesses the current library space, speaks to the new library site selection, recommended square footage of a new library and notes the minimum space needs of a modern library. Click on the link below for the full text.
Town Buys Existing Building – Initiates Design
Mont Vernon voted to buy the existing building for town use and to release design funding from the Library Capital Reserve
“To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Hundred Five Thousand Dollars ($105,000) for the purpose of purchasing the existing Daland Library Building from the Daland Trust. The building will continue to be maintained by the Daland Trust, and used exclusively as the Town Library until such time as a new library building is approved, constructed and occupied. The sale of the building is contingent on the approval of the Courts. This special article is a special warrant article per RSA 32:3 VI (d) and RSA 32:7 V.”
And
”To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of forty Five Thousand Dollars ($45,000) for the engineering, architecture, and estimating services necessary to prepare a preliminary site plan, including septic and drainage designs, a schematic design and a cost estimate for a new Library and authorize the withdrawal of Forty Five Thousand ($45,000) from the Library Capital Reserve created for that purpose. No funds are to come from general taxation. This will provide the information necessary to present a warrant article in 2019 to build a new library on the Town land previously acquired for this purpose adjacent to Carleton Pond. Recommendations Required. This article has no tax impact.”
2019
Library Capital Campaign Planning - Conyers Gift Announced
Mont Vernon Library Charitable Foundation begins planning campaign to fund new building.
In order to limit the tax impact of the new library project, The MVLCF began planning a capital campaign to raise the additional capital needed for the project. The campaign is expected to last a year. We are fortunate that the Library Capital Reserve Fund created to support the project by the voters of the Town of Mont Vernon and a substantial commitment from the Daland Trust give us a significant head start.
Late in 2019, the Foundation was thrilled to announce a major gift from the Estate of Sherri Conyers.
Sherri Conyers, a Mont Vernon resident bequeathed the sum of one million dollars to the Foundation in support of the project in memory of her late husband, David Lawrence Moore. At their meeting on Monday, December 16, 2019 the MVLCF board of directors voted to accept this very significant gift and to honor Sherri’s generosity by naming the adult reading room in the new library in honor of her husband, David Lawrence Moore. This gift represents the single largest commitment to the project to date.
2020
Leaf Fundraiser Concludes - Library Site Permits Received
Mont Vernon Library Charitable Foundation successfully concluded “Leaves of Change” fundraiser
The Foundation announced the successful conclusion of the Leaves of Change fundraiser. Kicked off in late 2018, the initiative raised $64,000 to support the Foundation’s future fundraising activities. The contributions of the fifty-four donors, representing the fifty-four leaves in the Daland Memorial Library logo, will be recognized in the new library.
The Mont Vernon Library Trustees obtain Key Site Permits
The Mont Vernon Library Trustees, with the support of the Board of Selectmen, the Cemetery Trustees and the Conservation Commission applied for several key site permits from various NH State Agencies in late 2019. All permits were granted in early 2020, clearing the way for site development within five years.
2021
Foundation Hosts Fundraisers – Applies for Grants - Supports Next Phase of Library Design
Mont Vernon Library Charitable Foundation hosted three very successful fundraising events during 2021
In June, The Mont Vernon Library Charitable Foundation participated in #NHGives for the first time and raised more than $5,000 in a single day. The event is a NH specific philanthropic challenge modeled on the global #GivingTuesday.
We were honored to be chosen by the Darula family to help host a September golf tournament celebrating the memory of Jayson Darula. The Souhegan Woods event was fabulous. Golfers and library supporters spent the day together remembering Jayson in a place that he loved. The event, together with memorial donations, raised nearly $25,000 toward the library project. We are so grateful to the Darula family for allowing us to share in this incredibly special day.
In November, MVLCF participated in #GivingTuesday for the third year in a row. Thanks to our generous matching donors, we raised a Foundation record of more than $10K in a single day.
The Mont Vernon Library Foundation Has Begun Aggressively Pursuing Grant Opportunities Large and Small During 2021
The Foundation submitted grant applications ranging from $10,000 to more than $600,000. The largest of these opportunities is an Infrastructure Challenge Matching Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The proposal was a team effort involving hundreds of hours of work not only from the Foundation but also from other Mont Vernon groups and individuals including the Historic District Commission, the Heritage Commission, and the Selectmen, who wrote letters supporting our grant proposal.
The Mont Vernon Library Foundation Provided Funding to the Library Trustees to Continue Design Work During 2021
The Foundation provided the funding necessary for the Library Trustees to conduct additional site investigation and to complete the next design phase including interior and exterior landscape design for the library project. This work further defines the New Library design and evaluated the library site to eliminate unknowns that affect project cost.
Q1 - 2022
New Library Information Session and 2022 Town Meeting
Mont Vernon Library Charitable Foundation participated in a New Library Information Session hosted by the Mont Vernon Library Trustees in February
The Foundation shared updated 2021 fundraising results and plans for 2022 and 2023 at the information session the Library Trustees hosted at the Mont Vernon Village School on February 22nd. The event was well attended and there was a lot of great discussion about the project. Questions raised at the session are now addressed on our FAQs page.
Mont Vernon Library Charitable Foundation Supported Library Candidates on Voting Day and Library Related Warrant Articles at Town Meeting in March
Following a very high turnout on Voting Day, MVLCF President Cindy Raspiller was re-elected to another three-year term as Library Trustee and former Board Member Amy White was elected to a two-year term.
Despite a surprise snowstorm on Town Meeting Day, the event was quite well attended. There were several items of interest to library supporters on this year’s Town Warrant. Discussion was lively! Residents supported release of Library Capital Reserve funding to complete the new building design and approved another addition to the Capital Reserve. The Sophia G. Daland Trust will once again match the Town’s generous contribution, bringing the total addition to $40K. Mont Vernon is so very fortunate to have benefitted for more than a century from Sophia Daland’s legacy!
While the Selectmen’s warrant on construction of the access road for the new cemetery and library wasn’t successful this year, it gives the Cemetery and Library Trustees time to collaborate with the other concerned groups to reexamine how we can best meet everyone’s needs.
Q2 - 2022
MONT VERNON LIBRARY PROJECT AWARDED $655,000 GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES!
The Mont Vernon Library Charitable Foundation has been awarded a matching grant worth up to $655,000 by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grant will support building the modern, accessible 7,600 square foot library Mont Vernon needs. The new facility will replace our current 1,200 square foot 1909 building, addressing the historic building’s many shortcomings and providing the space, technology, and accessibility to allow library staff and visiting presenters to offer high quality cultural programming for central southern NH residents. A major improvement anticipated by residents is the accessibility of the one-level design. The library is an important gathering space for town residents and the new facility will greatly enhance this important capability.
Our project is the only recipient this year in NH and one of only 23 projects nationwide.
To see the NEH press release and the full list of grantees visit: https://www.neh.gov/news/neh-announces-3317-million-245-humanities-projects-nationwide
Q3-2022
Library Building Committee Seated
Members:
Bill McKinney, Charlie York, and Christine Price Hamilton
Consulting Members:
Anne Dodd and Jill Weber (Daland Trust), Cindy Raspiller (Chair of Library Trustees), Bonnie Angulas (Library Director), and John Quinlan ( Selectman’s Representative)
The Library Building Committee was seated in September 2022. The committee is tasked with reviewing architectural design documents and collaborating with Library Trustees to develop a final design package and RFP to send out to construction forms for bids. The committee will review qualifying bids in January and assist the Library Trustees with warrant article development.
Q4-2022
The Library Building Committee worked with Dewing Schmid Kearns (DSK) for several months to identify cost reduction opportunities, finalize the new library design and release the formal Request for Proposals (RFP) for the new library project, The RFP was released in November of 2022. The LBC also developed cost estimates for expenses that the town will need to include in the overall project budget. These costs are known as “soft costs” and include contingency funding to cover unexpected expenses and the cost of independent inspections and to pay an expert to provide part time contractor oversight on behalf of the Town - often called a “clerk of the works”.
2023
After the Library Building Committee’s (LBC) hard work in the fall of 2022, the Library Trustees received four bids from local construction management firms in early January. The LBC scrutinized bids closely and worked with all four bidding firms to assure that each bid was fully responsive to the RFP before selecting three firms to interview. Following interviews in late January, the LBC recommended that the Library Trustees select Turnstone Corporation of Milford, NH as the CM for the project. After careful evaluation of the cost information within the Turnstone bid and estimates developed for items to be paid directly by the Town, the LBC recommended that the Library Trustees set the full project cost at $5.95M. The Library Trustees met in early February and voted to accept these recommendations. They then developed two warrant articles in support of the project and submitted them to the Select Board to be included in the 2023 Town Warrant.
FAQs
Who is the Mont Vernon Library Charitable Foundation (MVLCF)?
Who are the Mont Vernon Library Trustees (Library Trustees)?
Can we build the new library in stages, adding on as we need more space?
What is the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Grant and how does it affect the project?
Won’t a new larger building cost more to manage and maintain?
Who is the Mont Vernon Library Charitable Foundation (MVLCF)?
MVLCF is a public charity, founded to create a safe, tax-exempt vehicle to raise funds for a new library for Mont Vernon and recognized by the IRS as a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt organization in 2015. Contributions to the MVLCF may be tax-deductible and can only be used “for the enhancement and capital improvement of the public library of Mont Vernon, New Hampshire”. As a public charity, MVLCF must derive its support from the general public, meaning that a significant amount of our revenue must come from small donors, other public charities or the government. The MVLCF Board of Directors (Board) consists entirely of unpaid volunteers, dedicated to making this project a reality for Mont Vernon with the lowest possible tax impact.
The current MVLCF Board members are:
● President - Cindy Raspiller
● Treasurer - Spencer Lovette
● Secretary - Jane King
● Director - Bonnie Angulas
● Director - Larry Breckenridge
● Director - Lorri Hayes
● Director - Sheila Sturm
The Board has been active for several years but 2022 brought it to a whole new level. During much of the year the board met weekly, often for several hours. During 2022 alone they brought in the $655K National Endowment for the Humanities Infrastructure Challenge Grant, delivered record-setting results in the annual NH Gives one day giving challenge, launched a unique summer neighborhood challenge that raised over $50K and added over 100 donors to the project and worked with major project supporters to bring in more than $500K to the project in Naming Rights commitments. MVLCF donors are helping make the library for Mont Vernon’s next 100 years a reality by focusing every day on how to minimize the cost to the taxpayers for this outstanding project. In 2023, the Board was expanded to add two new Directors to enhance the Board’s ability to continue to raise funds to reduce the tax impact of the project.
Who are the Mont Vernon Library Trustees (Library Trustees)?
The Library Trustees are elected by Mont Vernon voters. Each Library Trustee serves a three-year term. They are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the library, including managing personnel, managing the budget, and setting library policy.
They should not be confused with trustees appointed by the probate court to administer the Sophia G. Daland Trust (See “Who is the Sophia G. Daland Trust”).
The current Library Trustees are:
Chair – Cindy Raspiller (term expires 2025)
Treasurer – Jane King (term expires 2026)
Secretary – Amy White (term expires 2024)
Who is the Sophia G. Daland Trust (Daland Trust)?
The Daland Trust is a private testamentary trust established by Sophia G. Daland’s will. Five Trustees, appointed by the Probate Court, administer the Trust.
They should not be confused with Mont Vernon Library Trustees elected by the voters of Mont Vernon (See “Who are the Library Trustees”).
Under the terms of Sophia Daland’s will, the Trust provides significant resources to the Town of Mont Vernon every year by paying for all library building maintenance and utilities. Mont Vernon is one of only two NH towns with no town appropriation for library maintenance or utilities.
The current Trustees of the Daland Trust are:
Anne Dodd
Scott Foster
Peter King
Jill Weber
Jane-Holly Weintraub
Who is the Library Building Committee (LBC)?
During earlier design phases, John Quinlan was asked by the Mont Vernon Library Trustees (Library Trustees) to chair the LBC. He was joined by Bill McKinney. In 2022, to recognize John’s return to the Mont Vernon Select Board and to support the added workload on the committee during final design, the LBC was expanded to include new voting members Christine Hamilton and Charlie York. Christine and Charlie both brought a wealth of experience and expertise as well as a fresh perspective to the project. Bill moved into the role of the LBC Chair and John remained involved in the project in his new role as the Select Board’s representative to the Library Trustees. In addition to the three voting members, five advisors supported the LBC throughout the final design and proposal process. If you are interested in the LBC’s work, you can find their meeting minutes online. The LBC has put in countless hours of work between August 2022 and the 2023 Town Meeting to finalize the design and conduct the proposal process while studying every detail to assure the project delivers at the lowest possible cost to the taxpayers.
The current members of the Library Building Committee are:
Voting Members
Bill McKinney - Chair
Christine Hamilton
Charlie York
Nonvoting Advisors
Anne Dodd - Daland Trust
Jill Weber - Daland Trust
John Quinlan - Select Board
Adrienne Penkacik - Conservation Commission
Cindy Raspiller - Library Trustees
Bonnie Angulas - Library Director
Why do we need a new library?
Although no one can deny the charm of the existing Daland Memorial Library building, it is also hard to deny that the building’s small size and its inaccessibility to so many residents significantly limit its functionality.
The Summer Reading Program, one of the library’s most popular annual initiatives, must be conducted outdoors to accommodate the 200+ children who consistently participate. The library’s popular April school vacation week program, “Wizarding Week”, must be held at the school to accommodate the 64 participants and the associated library staff and volunteers. Although the library is also a popular meeting space for smaller groups, many of the programs the library sponsors can only accommodate limited audiences unless the program is moved to another venue.
One of the most compelling reasons we need a new library is to make the library safe and accessible to all Mont Vernon residents. The existing building is inaccessible to both residents who use wheelchairs and to stroller traffic. It features only one real entrance/exit. The building’s only restroom, carved out of a stairway access in 1975, is not accessible. Grant-funded library programs must be held elsewhere whenever the grants stipulate that the programs must be accessible to all who would like to attend.
Aren’t libraries obsolete in the digital age?
Libraries are changing but they are far from obsolete. Recent studies show that rather than avoiding libraries, Millennials are embracing them. Even with its challenges, the existing library is one of the busiest places in town.
Although some statistics haven’t fully rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, we have more library card holders than ever and the building is hopping. In 2022, the library:
Was open 1,924 hours
Welcomed 13,902 visitors
Provided 4,435 downloads of e-Content. This contributed to a total checkout of 14,399 materials including books, eBooks, audiobooks, movies, magazines, museum passes, reference materials and interlibrary loans.
Lent 512 items from our collection to other libraries and brought in 1,006 items our patrons requested from other libraries.
Offered 205 programs to children and adults with 3,749 attendees.
Hosted 61 in-person meetings and 85 Zoom meetings.
Had a collection of 12,515 materials.
Had 1,692 library card holders.
Not obsolete, but always evolving.
Haven’t we tried this before?
Mont Vernon has been planning and saving for a new library for more than 35 years!
The first Capital Reserve Fund to expand the library was started in 1988. Since then, there have been several attempts to either expand or replace the library.
In 1997, a warrant article was approved to purchase land for a new library.
Prior to the proposal that was narrowly defeated at the 2023 Town Meeting, garnering 56% of the vote rather than the required 60%. Several warrant articles that would have relocated the existing building and constructed an addition or constructed an entirely new library were put forth between 1999 and 2006. Each failed by just a few votes.
A common thread mentioned by those who voted against each of these earlier plans was concern about the fate of the existing building.
That question was answered in 2018 when residents voted to purchase the building for town administrative use once the new library is occupied.
The Library Building Committee and the Library Trustees are hard at work addressing each of the concerns that was raised at the 2023 Town Meeting.
Why can’t we just add on to the old one?
Based on the professional, 3rd party Library Needs Assessment completed in 2018, the new library will be significantly larger than the existing building, which was built for a town of just 400 people.
The Assessment determined that a library properly designed to support today’s 2,800 residents must be proportionally larger than the current structure - or 7,600 square feet.
The current site is only 1/3 of an acre – far too small to support an addition of the appropriate size. Even if such a large addition were possible, it would dwarf the existing structure and ruin its beauty.
Can we build the new library in stages, adding on as we need more space?
The footprint of the new library was determined by the 2018 Library Needs Assessment. It is based on the services the 2017 Community-wide Survey identified as high priorities and considered both the current population of the town (~2,800) and the projected build-out population of 5,000.
Adding more space after the building is built would be more expensive and less effective. Since it wouldn’t be possible to expand each space by a certain percentage, the building would become fragmented and inefficient without doing costly and significant renovations to the existing space in addition to the cost of adding on.
Where will the new library be?
The new library will be built on land purchased by the Town in 1997 to serve as the site for both the new library and the new cemetery. The parcel abuts Grand Hill Road between the Post Office and Carleton Pond and continues up the hill behind both. The cemetery will be at the top of the hill and the library building will be above the Post Office. Although there had been discussion of a library location closer to Grand Hill Road, near Carleton Pond, discovery of significant areas of wetlands on the parcel make that location infeasible. (See “Who picked the Site?” for additional information)
Where are we in the project right now?
The Mont Vernon Library Trustees (Library Trustees) have completed the all three phases of design - schematic design, design development, and construction documents. In 2022, the Library Trustees worked with the Library Building Committee (LBC) to develop a Request for Proposals (RFP) and solicit project bids. The LBC evaluated the four bids that were received and invited three firms to interview. The Library Trustees accepted the LBC’s recommendation to name Turnstone Corporation of Milford NH as the project’s construction management firm. Using cost information from the bids, the Library Trustees presented a warrant article for the new library at the 2023 Town Meeting with a total project cost of $5.95M.
The warrant article was amended on the floor at Town Meeting to limit the cost to the town to a maximum of $2.36M. The Mont Vernon Library Charitable Foundation (MVLCF) was formed specifically to provide a safe, tax-exempt fundraising vehicle for the project. MVLCF has raised more than $2.3M to support the project to date. This MVLCF contribution is supplemented by funds held in the Library Capital Reserve and funds pledged by the Sophia G. Daland Trust (Daland Trust) and the Friends of the Daland Memorial Library. The Library Capital Reserve was created in 1988 and has a current balance of more than $93K in funds raised from taxes and more than $223K in generous matching contributions by the Daland Trust.
In early 2020, the Library Trustees received several key site permits, allowing for site development within five years.
When will the project come before Town Meeting?
A warrant article for the New Library Building Project was considered in 2023 and fell short by a few votes. A new warrant article is expected to be developed late this year and submitted for consideration at the 2024 Town Meeting.
It is absolutely essential that the project be approved in 2024 in order to avoid jeopardizing site permits, the $1M Conyers gift and the National Endowment for the Humanities $655K grant.
The Library Trustees and Library Building Committee are working with both the designer and construction management firm to continue to reduce the project cost while the Mont Vernon Library Charitable Foundation continues to raise money for the project. The total project cost in 2024 is expected to be less than the $5.95M proposed in 2023. With added fundraising, this means that even less than the 2023 estimate of $2.36M (40%) will need to be raised through taxes. The remainder of the project will be paid for from several sources including:
Mont Vernon Library Charitable Foundation (MVLCF) Donations, Pledges & Grants – $2.1m+
Daland Trust Matches & Pledge – $1.02m
Town Library Capital Reserve – $93K
Friends of Daland Memorial Library Pledge – $42K
Why is the access road a separate project?
The road will serve as the access road to the new town cemetery at the top of the hill. All NH towns are required (with certain exceptions) by statute to have cemeteries and this road to the cemetery is a future town road. The new cemetery will be needed when the current Greenlawn Cemetery on Main Street is full. According to the Cemetery Trustees, they expect to need the road to begin laying out the new cemetery by 2027.
The chosen library site allows the town to use land allocated to the library project to provide a single access road for both projects. Building the road now obviously supports both projects.
Because the library project has significant private funding and the National Endowment for the Humanities grant scope is limited to the library building project, the road is a separate project.
Why doesn’t the current design include a sprinkler system?
The building architects, Dewing Schmid Kearns (DSK), designed the building in accordance with the fire and building codes. Due to the type of construction, the small size of the building and its intended use, they determined that an automated sprinkler system is not required by code. To enhance the building’s safety, DSK’s design requires fire-rated lumber, includes a fire detection and alarm system and has many different exit routes.
During the design process, the Library Building Committee (LBC) shared the design with the Mont Vernon Fire Department for their review. MVFD indicated that their interpretation of the code is that an automated sprinkler system is required.
The matter is still under discussion and is expected to be resolved in time to adjust the design if warranted.
How will this affect my taxes?
We are fortunate to have more than 60% of the funding for the project fully committed.
This includes:
A total commitment of $1.02M from the Sophia G. Daland Trust
$93K remaining in the Town Library Capital Reserve after completion of the design work
$42K in funding approved by the Friends of the Daland Memorial Library to sponsor the circulation desk area, and
More than $2.1M raised by the Mont Vernon Library Charitable Foundation (MVLCF) to date
In 2023, based on information from the NH Municipal Bond Bank (NH MBB), the tax impact of the project was expected to be about $.54 per $1K of valuation or about $161 per year on a house appraised at $300K. This number assumed a 30-year level debt bond at an interest rate of 6%. The actual tax impact in 2024 is expected to be lower if the overall project cost is reduced and if MVLCF is able to secure additional grants, pledges and gifts before the 2024 Town Meeting. The tax impact will also be affected by the rates set by the NH MBB in early 2024.
What is the NEH Grant and how does it affect the project?
In early 2022, the Mont Vernon Library Charitable Foundation was awarded a matching grant worth up to $655,000 by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). This Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grant will directly support the new library building project. The award was the result of an extensive application submitted by the MVLCF Board of Directors, with support from many other town organizations.
The grant provides a 25% match on all qualifying contributions. To date, MVLCF can qualify $380K or 58% of the grant funding. MVLCF expects to qualify for the entire grant award, meaning that $655,000 will be available to the project. There are some restrictions on how the grant funding may be used and because it is a federal grant there are several requirements that MVLCF must fulfill. The project must successfully complete NEH’s Historic Preservation and Environmental Reviews and allow for public comment. We expect to complete these requirements later this year.
Our project is the only 2022 recipient in NH and one of only 23 projects nationwide. It is the largest NEH grant ever awarded in NH. Congresswoman Annie Kuster visited the library in April of 2022 to congratulate the team and has continued to partner with Mont Vernon leaders to identify additional sources of funding to support the project.
Won’t a new, larger building cost more to manage and maintain?
Mont Vernon is very fortunate that, thanks to the vision and generosity of Sophia Daland, the Sophia G. Daland Trust (Daland Trust) bears these costs for the townspeople of Mont Vernon. Not only did her will specify that her bequest should provide the town with a library building, but also that the Daland Trust must maintain the library “in perpetuity”.
Although some costs will be higher for the new, larger building, there will be fewer required major repairs. Thanks to the Daland Trust, the Daland Memorial Library is one of only two NH town libraries with no town appropriation for library maintenance or utilities.
The building has been designed with energy efficiency in mind; the bottom line is that there will be no impact on the library budget as appropriated by the town.
When would the new library open?
If the Mont Vernon Library Trustees warrant article for the new library construction is approved at the 2024 Town Meeting, construction can begin as soon after as the weather allows.
The new library will open upon completion of construction, likely by summer 2025.
It is very important that construction begin soon.
Because Sherri Conyers wanted to assure that the project would move forward quickly, her will requires that MVLCF return her $1M gift if construction doesn’t begin by October 2024.
Because the site permits also expire in 2024, there is significant incentive for the town to move forward this year. Because of changes in the NH Wetlands regulations, new permits would require “wetlands mitigation”. This is essentially a large payment to the general fund of the State of NH.
The “No” vote in 2023 also complicated the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) $655K in grant funding. NEH is working to assure that we continue to qualify for a waiver from the potentially costly requirements of the Build America, Buy America Act.
All unused Mont Vernon Library Charitable Foundation gifts must be returned to the original donors if the project does not ultimately proceed. The funds held by the foundation are not available for any other uses.
Who picked the site?
The Town used funds from the Library Capital Reserve and the Cemetery Trust to purchase the land in 1997. Following approval of a warrant article at Town Meeting in 2018, the library project team and the architect selected the specific location for the library building.
Several potential locations were evaluated. The team’s first choice would have been above the pond, but the location was rejected due to concerns raised by the Conservation Commission and the significantly higher construction costs estimated for that location. A second site closer to Grand Hill Road was eliminated due to size constraints caused by the wetlands. The site above the Post Office was recommended by Dewing Schmid Kearns (DSK), the project architect, to minimize cost, maximize visibility of the building from Grand Hill Road, facilitate views from the library’s front porch and minimize wetlands disturbances. Meridian Land Services, who completed the state-required wetlands permitting also supported this site selection. The Cemetery Trustees have been very supportive partners in developing the overall site. They do not support a recent suggestion to redraw the internal site boundaries and clear the land above the pond to shift the library building and the access road(s) for both the library and cemetery projects into the wooded area. Similarly, the Conservation Commission opposed siting the building above the pond when it was considered in 2018.
The project team included a Selectmen’s representative, Mont Vernon Library Trustees, Trustees of the Sophia G. Daland Trust and key members of the library staff. The Cemetery Trustees and Conservation Commission were also consulted.
Who designed the new building?
The new building was designed by Dewing Schmid Kearns (DSK) of Concord, MA. They were selected in July of 2018, following approval of a warrant article to allow use of funding from the Library Capital Reserve to complete a conceptual design and cost estimate for the project.
In late June, a team, which included a Selectmen’s representative, Mont Vernon Library Trustees, Trustees of the Sophia G. Daland Trust and key members of the library staff, asked eleven firms to submit proposals for the project.
The team interviewed four of the seven firms who provided responses to the request for proposals. DSK was selected based on their creative vision for the project, their extensive library design background, and the strength of the team they brought to the table.
Will it still be called the Daland Memorial Library?
There are no plans to change the name of the library. Sophia Daland made the current library possible, and her Trust has supported and maintained it for more than 100 years. The Sophia G. Daland Trust (Daland Trust) is providing significant additional support for the library building project. The Daland Trust will continue to support the new building “in perpetuity” by paying for building maintenance and utilities. Thanks to the Daland Trust, the Daland Memorial Library is one of only two NH town libraries with no town appropriation for library maintenance or utilities.
What will happen to the existing library building?
At Town Meeting in 2018, the voters of Mont Vernon approved a warrant article authorizing the Selectmen to purchase the building from the Sophia G. Daland Trust for town use. This decision followed the 2-year building study of the Library, McCollom Building and Town Hall. Although the final specific use of the existing library building hasn’t been determined, it is expected to be used to house various town departments over several years to facilitate renovations of Town Hall and the McCollom Building. One often mentioned possibility is using the existing building as a meeting space available for use by groups in town.
Will the new library have the same hours and staffing?
The building has been designed with the current staffing in mind. Once the library moves to its new home, voters can evaluate whether longer hours or additional staffing add value to the town.
How can I help?
There are lots of ways to get involved:
Join the Friends of the Daland Memorial Library (Friends of the Library): The Friends of the Library don’t just support library programs; they’ve also been raising funds to provide the circulation desk in the new library.
Consider joining or working with the Mont Vernon Library Charitable Foundation (MVLCF) Board of Directors. MVLCF is also looking for anyone with grant writing experience who may be willing and able to help.
Does your employer match charitable donations? If yes, ask them to add MVLCF to the list of charities they support.
Interested in donating? Visit the MVLCF website. Talk to one of the MVLCF Board Members or send us an email. We have many levels and types of giving available – including some exciting naming opportunities.
