Connecticut's Library Heritage
Library Director: Kathleen Cockcroft
Original building: 1920
New Building: 1999
Architect: Galliher, Baier & Best
Construction Cost: $2,408,904
State Grant: $500,000
Size: 16,209 sq. ft.
Collection: 46,973 vols
Population (1990): 8500
By JoAnne Pierce
The center of the Town of Canton is the village of Collinsville, which grew around the Collins Company, famous world-wide for its axes. The first public library in Canton was organized in 1913 and housed in the basement of the Collins Company. It opened with 650 books, and the librarian, Miss Lucia Derrin, was engaged at a salary not to exceed $150 per year.
In 1920 a new library building was dedicated, the gift of Helen R. Collins, as a memorial to her late husband, Howard, son of Samuel Collins, founder of the Collins Company. Within a decade, the trustees were looking at ways to expand the library. Several renovations and additions ensued over the years so that the space doubled to 3000 sq. ft. by 1975. However, the town was growing steadily, and it was apparent that the library building was inadequate in terms of space, parking, and lack of meeting and program rooms.
Because of an inadequate building, it was impossible to automate the library's operations, which further convinced townspeople that a new building was necessary. Several proposals were put forward by the trustees with the support of the Friends of the Library and the League of Women Voters, who had studied and reported on Canton's library needs. However, no action was taken by the town.
In the 1990s several things happened that culminated in a building project going forward. The old library building could not be made compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. An elementary school in the center of town closed, and the Board of Selectmen was interested in using it for community purposes. And, Burton L. Harrington, a long time resident, died and bequeathed the library a sum of $600,000, which grew over time to be more than $750,000. This money, along with a likely state grant of $500,000, convinced voters to renovate the elementary school as a library/community center. The greatest plea heard from townspeople was that the library not look like a school, and this thought became central to the architect's plans.
The new building was dedicated in December 1999. The library occupies 16,209 sq. ft. in the 35,000 sq. ft. building. The rest of the building contains the senior center, the parks and recreation department, a large community meeting room with a full kitchen, and five additional meeting rooms for town use.
The library is spacious and airy. Cherry wood was used throughout the adult area, accented by dark blue and rust upholstery and paint. There are comfortable areas to peruse newspapers and magazines or to visit over coffee (offered each Monday morning by the Friends). A Microsoft NT LAN, expandable to 50 workstations, drives the computers that are integral to library operations and services, which include the catalog and automated databases, and Internet access. There are also individual workstations for word-processing and other applications.
The open and inviting children's room has an outer space theme with a cloud-laden ceiling and rocket and star motifs on stack ends. There is a separate storytime/craft room as well as a computer room in the children's area. A program room for exclusive use of the library seats 50 people. A new entrance was constructed that gives the library a sweeping facade, which transforms the school image, as requested.
Come see this library at the Libratects meeting on Thursday, October 19 at 9:30 a.m. People involved in the design and construction of the library will be available to answer questions.
JoAnne Pierce chairs the Canton Public Library's Board of Trustees.
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