New Library Facts and Figures | New Sutton Library

Library Trustee Statement Addressing Questions & Concerns

The Trustees address some common concerns, and issues raised at the most recent Board of Selectmen’s Meeting. Click on the link below to learn more.

Sutton Library Finance and Warrant Statement

How Big Is The New Library?

The new library is smaller than many libraries in comparable towns.
It had to meet the needs of the community for the next 20 years.
Two different methods were used to determine the necessary size.

Currently, Sutton only has 0.2 square feet per person, while Massachusetts town with populations from 2,000 to 15,000 average is 1.5 square feet per person. Our proposed library is 1.7 square feet per person at the current population, which includes some additional space for population growth and the overwhelming requests for public meeting space.

The Library Building Needs Committee used two different methods to determine the necessary size.

1. The Library Building program, utilizing the standards required by the state. Within those standards, the building needs committee could choose to meet one of the following levels of service: Basic, Moderate, Enhanced or Excellent, and determined that a moderate level of services was most appropriate for Sutton. his program predicted a minim required library size of 17,000 square feet.

2. The veteran architectural firm Johnson Roberts reviewed the project and arrived at a similar answer of approximately 17,500 square feet. The library must be designed to meet the needs of the community for 20 years ahead. Sutton utilized Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Council’s data, which projects growth to 10,360 by 2035. At this population, we will be near the average, at 1.6 square feet per person. It’s also important to note that several of the towns within that group are also pursuing building programs to either rebuild or expand their libraries.

USE IT OR LOSE IT:

The Town of Sutton has been granted a unique opportunity to use matching state funds to build a new library and resource center. This is a limited time offer from the state as the funds will go to another town if Sutton voters fail to vote in favor of a new library this year. “The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) has awarded the Sutton Free Public Library a Provisional Construction Grant totaling $4,979,584. The grant is part of the MBLC’s Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP) which helps libraries across the state meet the growing demand for library services with expanded and improved library facilities. “Help us complete a library that will meet Sutton’s needs today, tomorrow, and for the future. The Library Board, the Friends of the Library and the Library staff invite broad-based community participation in this effort. We simply cannot do it without your help. Our success will ensure the Library’s ability to continue its vital role as the center of the community, the touchstone for all residents, a public place for information, literature, education support, culture and the arts.