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On May 1, 2005, the Concord Library officially re-opened following the most ambitious and extensive renovation and expansion in its 132 year history. Town officials, staff, trustees and patrons joined in the celebration highlighted by remarks from Concord authors Doris Kearns Goodwin and Alan Lightman. The campaign raised over $7.6 million, primarily from Concord patrons. Their generosity and loyalty sustained everyone through the trying days of fundraising and the even more challenging logistics involved in returning books and furniture installation.

The May event, however was not the first opportunity to celebrate the “new” Library. During a mighty winter storm in January, Special Collections, now triple in size and elegantly appointed, was dedicated to honor William Munroe, an early and major Library benefactor. Joel Myerson, professor emeritus from the University of South Carolina and a specialist in Transcendental authors, relayed wonderful memories of his research days at the Library.

In April, the trustees devoted two evenings to thank those who made the Library’s transformation possible—one for donors and one for staff. These wonderful occasions were reminders of the generous nature of our community and the loyalty and dedication of our librarians.

Much of the remainder of the year was devoted to fine tuning the many changes to the Library. As with any new construction, unforeseen problems arose. Unexpected and certainly unwanted leaks appeared. Some rooms were overly hot, others too cold. Turning on the lights brought its own challenges. Accommodating the huge influx of books for the annual Friends’ book sale competed with the return of staff and their desks and work paraphernalia. By the close of the year, however, the HVAC system worked smoothly. A rational plan to allocate space for donated books and supplies was established.

Outside, the grounds, which had taken a beating during construction, were also transformed. New plantings, seating areas and walkways welcomed everyone back. A new curb cut along Sudbury Road provides safer and more efficient access for deliveries.

With these achievements behind them, the trustees began to discuss the future. Fundraising will, of course, remain a priority. There will always be a demand to address the physical needs of the building and grounds, pay insurance and provide a robust book budget. The annual appeal provides much of the funds for these items. To this end, the trustees hosted an annual appeal kick-off party. By the close of 2005, the appeal had generated a record amount half way through our fiscal year—$130,000. The annual campaign ends in June, 2006.

As administrators of the Williams Scholarships, the trustees awarded scholarships to the following students pursuing studies in the arts: Merli Guerra (Mt. Holyoke College—dance); Linh Ha (National Technical Institute for the Deaf—art); Elisa Purinton (Mt. Ida College—graphics [sic] arts); and Sarah Bird (Brown University—art).

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