Groton Public Library renovations taking shape
Groton — Work on an $859,000 construction project to enlarge the local history room in Groton Public Library, create a new computer lab and handle other maintenance should be completed in February, the library director said.
“It’s really moving along and looking great,” Director Betty Anne Reiter said.
The state awarded the library a $414,000 construction grant about two years ago to enlarge its local history room and make other upgrades after Groton Town Historian James Streeter offered to donate his vast history collection to the town. The town provided matching funds for the project in its capital budget during the 2016 fiscal year. The library raised $100,000.
The project, which will nearly triple the size of the history room, includes one room for the library's existing history collection, one room for the Streeter collection and an entrance area with a glass display and locked cabinets for other materials.
Work crews have closed off the construction area in the library so as not to disturb visitors. The new computer lab is about one-third larger than the previous space and will include white boards for teaching and computers on wheels so the room can be configured differently depending on the class. The lab will also include a station for people to turn VHS tapes into DVDs.
A new exterior book drop, which residents can drive by, was installed shortly before Thanksgiving. Two rooftop heating and air conditioning units will be replaced during the next two months, followed by new ceiling tiles throughout the building. The project will end with reconstruction of the parking lot.
When finished, the large wall residents see on the left as they enter the library will feature a historical map of Groton from 1893, with iconic images of places like Fort Griswold superimposed on top.
Michael Spellman, the reference librarian who oversees the local history room, said he’s received about 200 books and 10 boxes of assorted documents and papers, only a small portion of Streeter’s collection, which includes maps, artifacts, calendars from local businesses and nearly 16,000 photos.
“We’re going to digitize the whole collection so that people are going to be able to access it remotely,” Reiter said. “That’s going to be a huge project, but that’s what we’re already working on. Only the most serious researchers will need to visit the library in person to see the items."
Spellman is working with two volunteers and staff to inventory what the boxes contain. He's applying for a grant for the archival folders and boxes to hold the material. Students from the University of Connecticut at Avery Point will help sort through material as part of their public history class during the spring semester.
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