THE NEW CHAPTER

Welcome to THE NEW CHAPTER – a place to get the latest updates as we embark on the exciting next phase of our Library building project. We hope you find this to be an easy way to stay in touch with our progress. Hear from our architects and designers, get engaged with our plans for environmental sustainability, catch a preview of the great new resources and programming that will be available in the new spaces, get fundraising updates, learn about upcoming events and more. We look forward to introducing you to many voices among our enormously talented team in the months and years ahead, so please sign up to stay in touch. 

So, what is the latest? After 8 months of intensive design development work, Centerbrook architects, along with our engineers, staff and our building committee, have now completed the highly detailed construction site plans needed to finally submit our project for Planning and Zoning approval this week.

We have also just achieved our first milestone vote on the road to a new building: yesterday, our 3 Town Selectmen, with the recommendation from the New Canaan Parking Commission, voted unanimously to approve a new parking plan that will enable Library patrons to use the adjacent Center School Lot. With appropriate signals and traffic calming measures installed along Maple Street, this solution will give Library users easy access to the main entrance to the new building that is convenient and safe. Notably, handicapped parking will be located right at the very front of the Center School parking lot, at the same distance from the Library as is currently available.

We are delighted to have had the Town’s partnership and clear support for the community’s greater use of this underutilized, adjacent lot to accommodate Library visitors.

This is a real step forward for the project.

In addition, we eagerly anticipate the launch of the public process that will affirm the Town’s financial commitment to support a new Library campus.

The recent draft Memorandum of Understanding newly released by the Selectmen is a welcome start to finalizing the Town’s financial commitment to the project. As in any negotiation, many points of clarification and discussion remain, however we are bolstered by the evident effort our Town government has made to produce a comprehensive document that begins to clarify their publicly stated support for this once in a lifetime project.

We have a lot to achieve in the days ahead and are working non-stop to lay the groundwork for putting a spade in the earth in June. Stay tuned for more information about upcoming public hearings and how you can help – as always, we welcome your participation and support.

With very best wishes, 

Lisa Oldham 

Executive Director 

Don’t forget to sign up HERE to stay in touch!