Plans are moving forward to construct a new branch library in a Springfield neighborhood that is recovering from the tornado of 2011.
The Springfield City Council approved a 99-year lease for the proposed site of a new East Forest Park library. The plan is to build the library on a 3.5-acre portion of the grounds of the Mary Dryden School on Surrey Road. The elementary school was damaged by the June 2011 tornado and subsequently repaired.
The new library would be just down the street from Pope Francis High School. The new regional Catholic high school is under construction on the site of the former Cathedral High School building that was wrecked by the tornado.
Molly Fogarty, director of the Springfield Library Department, said the library is currently located in a small shopping plaza.
"The current space is insufficient," said Fogarty. " It is our second-busiest branch but we don't have room for programing. We don't have a really good children's area. There is not enough room for collections. It is not an acceptable space."
The new library would include dedicated areas for children and teens, reading and computer rooms, a café, and community room.
" The community has been looking for a new library since the 1950's," said Fogarty. " So, it has been a longtime coming."
A feasibility study put the estimated cost for the new library at $9 million. Fogarty said a grant that could pay at least half the cost of construction will be sought from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.
"Those grant rounds don't happen too often. The last one was in 2010," said Fogarty. " The ( application) is due January 26th, so we'll be working through Christmas and New Years to get it done."
City Councilor Tim Allen said a new library for the neighborhood was included in the tornado recovery master plan.
"People were asked ' As we rebuild the city what would like?' and they said a better library," explained Allen.
Nine possible locations were considered for the new library before a consensus was reached to put it next to the Mary Dryden School.
"It is a great project for the neighborhood," said Allen.
The Springfield School Committee voted unanimously to lease the school property to the city Library Department.
