After years of debate and delays over the future of the Woodstock Public Library, a costly turn of events has led the library board to propose a $300,000 bond to cover a shortfall in its ongoing relocation to a new building in Bearsville. The bond proposal would be included in the Oct. 9 budget and trustee election ballot.
The library purchased 10 Dixon Ave. with a $3.95 million bond approved by voters in May 2022. Since then, the library has raised an additional $1.7 million for renovations, but has fallen just short of what is needed to complete the project.
Despite the funding gap, the library still plans to close Aug. 29 for four to five weeks to begin moving from its longtime home at 5 Library Lane to the new facility at 10 Dixon Ave.
“Part of that is because we have sold that building as of over a year ago, and our landlord needs to take possession and move forward with her plan,” Library Director Ivy Gocker said. “So we are under some pressure to get into the new space, and we’re eager to do that too, because we’re excited about our new building.”
Bearsville Center owner Lizzie Vann purchased the Library Lane building last year and has been leasing it to the library.
“Once completed, the new building will provide the same library and information services we’ve offered the town for over a century, but in a much more comfortable, healthy and accessible space with updated technology,” Library Board President Barry Miller said.
“We will be able to offer a greater variety of programs in our indoor and outdoor spaces, with rooms for quiet study and group meetings. Our climate-resilient building will also serve the town as a warming and cooling facility with backup generators — especially during emergencies.”
The new bond is needed to cover unexpected costs, including a fire pump and sprinkler system required because the town water supply lacks sufficient pressure.
“We also dealt with about $260,000 in change orders once they started demolition of the building, because there’s just the unexpected things you discover once you start ripping up walls — structural supports that had to be put in,” Gocker said.
She noted the scope of work had already been scaled back last August before the project went to bid, after initial estimates exceeded the budget.
“So we have reduced this project down to the bare essentials so that we can deliver a library to the community as we planned.”
According to Munistat, the bonding agency, the 15-year bond would result in a tax increase of $7.41 per year for a home assessed at $425,000.
Because the library district does not have authority to issue bonds on its own, the Town Board (expected to be unanimously in support) must approve the measure in addition to receiving voter approval.
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