Wilton will be seeking feedback from the public on how best to use federal funds secured to create a “Smart Space” within the library.
Wilton Public and Gregg Free Library is one of 15 small libraries – one of two in New Hampshire – to receive a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, implemented in partnership by WebJunction and the Association for Rural and Small Libraries to create a space that fills a community need – and just what the need is will be determined by those who use the library, explained Library Director Pat Fickett.
“The purpose is to allow libraries to create spaces that engage the public,” said Fickett. “We have four or five ideas, but we really need that community input.”
The grant gives the library up to $5,000 to implement a community space. Among the ideas the library already is considering is creating a lab area in the youth section of the library that would allow for science learning, creating an outdoor learning space for gardening or environmental programs, or expanding the libraries existing STEM or STEAM efforts.
“We as a library have done a lot with STEM and STEAM,” said Fickett. “We’re already working with that and seeing a lot of interest from the public and seeing a desire for the community to have more of that.”
However, she said, the library will be taking feedback as part of the grant process. Youth Services Librarian Stephanie Loiselle, who is leading the project, will go to sessions in late January to learn to facilitate the process, and from February through June, the library will engage the public and start taking feedback and developing ideas. By the summer of 2017 the library will try prototypes for library space transformation and active learning, and start integrating community feedback.
In the fall of 2017 and spring of 2018, the library will create an action plan and budget for its proposed space and implement the plan.
If you have ideas about the library’s space, contact Loiselle at the library.
Ashley Saari can be reached at asaari@ledgertranscript.com.