First Selectman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers is looking for volunteers who want to serve on a Library Building Committee.
The committee will supervise the possible construction of a new, 19,000 square-foot library.
Drayton-Rogers wants to make appointments to the committee at the next Board of Selectmen meeting, scheduled for Oct. 7.
The committee will have nine members, which includes two alternate members. A liason from from the library’s board of directors is expected to be added as well.
The town has preliminary plans to build a new library on a 5‑acre lot along Route 67, on land to be donated to the town by Dr. Anthony and Sally Desusa, principal investors with Salton Enterprises.
The library would be built behind a proposed 20-acre, four-lot retail/medical office complex Salton wants to build across from Oxford Hardware Paint and Supplies.
The Salton Enterprises project is still under review by the town.
Drayton-Rogers said she is looking for volunteers to come forward that have an interest in the library project and a background in building and construction.
She said the commitment would last a minimum of two to three years.
“Since the town is moving forward with the Salton Enterprises project and they’ve included an offer to provide a parcel of land to the town, I want to have a group in place that can be involved from the beginning of the project,” she said.
Drayton-Rogers said there is $50,000 in the 2009 – 2010 budget to form the committee and consult an architect.
The location for the new library was recommended by the town ‘s Library Site Selection Committee.
Library Director Dawn Higginson said the existing, 2,000 square-foot library has been at Oxford Town Hall since 1978. It was only supposed to be there five years, Higginson said.
She said the small confines make it difficult to have large children’s events and other community activities.
“The town hall space is not always available so it is hard to have bigger events,” she said.
“The current library is not capable of serving the needs with growth of the community over 20 years,” said Ralph McKinney, treasurer of the library’s board of directors.
Higginson said a new larger facility would expand opportunities for community activities and provide space to add more computers.
“It is really exciting to see the town moving forward and making it a priority,” she said.
Lenny Alexander, president of the Friends of the Library, said the 50-year old organization has been raising money to provide furniture, computers and other accessories for the new library.
Alexander and his wife Leslie, both former educators in New York City, have already thrown their names into the ring for appointment to the Library Building Committee.
Alexander said that unlike in the city, libraries in small towns are the center of the community.
“A library that is inviting to residents will make Oxford a better community,” he said.
Drayton-Rogers said it would be up to the building committee to determine how to fund the project — borrowing the money and/or seeking grants are options.
The town would hold public hearings on the proposed library — and citizens would have to approve the project through a vote.
For more information about volunteering contact the First Selectman’s office, (203) 888- 2543 ext. 3034.
