COME CHECK OUT THE ENTRANCE RENOVATION~~THE STAIRS AND RAMP ARE DONE, AND THE BOOK DROP IS OPEN AGAIN.
THE OLD GRANITE STEPS HAVE BEEN MADE INTO BENCHES TO GRACE THE GROUNDS.
  IN RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY DEMAND, THE ENTRYWAY HAS BECOME MORE ACCESSIBLE!        
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628 Old Homestead Hwy.,  Swanzey, NH  03446     603-357-0456          Mon 10-4,  Tue & Thu 10-5,   Wed 2-8,   Sat 10-2
Books  Audios  DVDs  Magazines  Downloadables  Databases  Public access computers  Printers  Copier  Meeting room  Antiquarian collection

Please join the Trustees, staff and Friends of the Library as we raise funds to improve access to the library. 
Elevator to the upper floors!  User-friendly front door entrance!  Expanded children's section!  Museum/showcase of Swanzey antiquities! Solar panels! Let's make these dreams a reality.
Scroll down to read more about this exciting endeavor.
C O N S I D E R   B E C O M I N G   A   S U S T A I N I N G   M E M B E R
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Upcoming Highlights

USEFUL LINKS

Family Movie Night

Family movie nights are held nearly every month throughout the school year, free and open to the public.  Due to structural problems with the floor, no movie nights will be held until the meeting room is open again.
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​Weather closings
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Check Facebook and WMUR for up to date information about library closings. 
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CAPITAL CAMPAIGN PROGRESS NOTES

READY, SET, GO!
F U N D R A I S I N G

E L E V A T O R
From Mary Wood, MCUL Board Chair
July 15, 2023
As of this spring, the front entrance was finally completed. The new front entrance features an accessible ramp and new, easier to climb stairs. The granite from the old stairs were made into two benches, which are now on the front lawn of the library. Tim Bell and his crew did a fantastic job creating the landscaping around the front entrance. We hope you all are enjoying this work, and finding the library more accessible. 
Currently, we are deep into finishing fund raising to do the very important work in the library of reinforcing the first and second floors. The structural engineer brought in by our architect, Katie Cassidy Sutherland, reported that all three floors need reinforcement. This greatly curtailed the second floor activities, including the monthly movie night and various other programs.  We were advised not to hold any programming on the second floor until this work was complete. This work is scheduled to begin after Labor Day, with the work taking three to four months to complete. During this time, the contractors will also be installing new wiring and duct work, plus a new heating/cooling system.
Our HVAC system failed us this winter, and thanks to a generous friend, we were able to secure a very temporary used one, that is now also sadly failing.
We are still short of our fundraising goal for this latest renovation and are moving forward on faith that our community will come forward and help us with this shortfall.  Every little bit helps!

January 2022          A letter from Kathy Habiby, Elected Trustee :
I am happy to report that our beloved Mt. Caesar Union Library has received a $45,000 matching grant from the Putnam Foundation, through the New Hampshire Charitable Trust.  This is good news indeed because now we are able to enter into the next phase of our renovation project which we have scheduled to begin early this Fall.  This Phase will include reconfiguring the main front entrance to make it completely handicap accessible which means that the present steps will be removed and a new ramp, landing and stair access will be installed, along with automatic doors.  In addition, the main floor of the historic original portion of the Library will be structurally re-enforced.
 
However, all of this is contingent upon us matching that $45,000 grant and that is where you can help.  Because of your generosity in the past, we are well on our way, but still have a way to go and with your additional help I believe we can make it. 
 
Please either click on the Library link mtcaesarunionlibrary.weebly.com and hit the “DONATE” button, or
Mail a check to:
                Mt. Caesar Union Library (it is okay to use MCUL)
                P. O. Box 10222
                638 Old Homestead Hwy
                Swanzey, NH  03446
or,  drop it off in person when you are at the Library.
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Remember, we are a 501(c)3 organization so your conation is completely tax deductible.  Please be as generous as you can.
 
Thank you in advance for whatever you can do.
 
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!
 
Kathy Habiby
Town Elected Trustee to the
Mount Caesar Union Library and
Chair of the Next Chapter Capital Campaign
 
Home:   (603-357-8778
Mobile: (603) 852-0000

NOVEMBER 2021    LETTER FROM BOARD CHAIR AND ELECTED TRUSTEE
Where’s the Elevator?
It is a long story, but let us try to give you the short version:
In 2018, it became apparent that our beloved Mt Caesar Union Library is not handicap accessible, as we realized some with physical challenges could not access the second floor, and many were finding it difficult to enter the first floor from the old granite steps. Hence, the idea to install an elevator was born. 
After gathering together interested folks, and taking a small survey in the Town, a Capital Campaign Committee was formed. Recognizing that changes do not come about easily in our community, and that renovations only happen about once every 30 years to the library, it was decided to embark on a rather ambitious campaign to do everything at once – make the building ADA accessible with an elevator going from the basement to the third floor, new ADA accessible bathrooms, renovating the third floor to be used as a showcase for the many Swanzey antiquities currently being stored away in the library basement, adding an addition on the second floor for a children’s library, and making the library more energy efficient. Little did we know what a “pandora’s box” we were opening!
Being an historic building (1843), there are many rules and regulations to be adhered to.  An architect was hired, who brought in a structural engineer and surveyor. We solicited bids and decided on a general contractor, Ingram Construction, a Swanzey owned business. The structural engineer discovered through his analysis, that all three floors of the library are not sound. His recommendation is that all existing floors need to be reinforced to comply with building code requirements. ​

We sent out pleas to the community for donations, we applied for every sort of grant we were eligible for. Our neighbors generously sent in their donations and a few small grants were received. However, the major grants were all turned down, suggesting we need Town support before they would step up to help. 

What does Town support mean? Inasmuch as MCUL is a public library, we operate as a non-profit 501(c)3, according to the Deed established in 1881, when the library first opened its doors. State regulations require that the Town provide adequate funding for the operation of the library. The Town provides an operating budget, as well as an expendable trust fund, in reserve for major repairs to the library building – you may have noticed this past summer extensive work on the library chimney, which needed repairs. 

In the past, minimal increases in the operating budget were requested; the library has been operating on a nominal budget for many years. Over the past few years, the Town has increased the budget, which has enabled us to increase wages and give some small benefits to the hardworking staff, helped us increase our book budget and upgrade our technology, as it is more and more necessary to be constantly updated. We are currently requesting of the Town another somewhat larger budget increase for 2022, so staffing hours can be increased. Another position of 24 hours a week will greatly enhance the service we provide to the community, and give our current over-stretched staff some breathing room. With these added hours, it will ensure that two staff members are present at all times during regular library hours, and, the library will also be providing a dedicated children’s librarian, and increase programming for kids and adults. 

The Town has given their verbal and written support to the Capital Campaign, for which we are grateful. However, the support the big grant people would like to see is capital investment.  They want to see the Town fiscally invested in this project to renovate the library before they give us a big bunch of money. 

The idea of a warrant article has been suggested. We have been hesitant to do this, as the Town folk continue to battle it out over the size, need, location, etc. of a new fire station – something long overdue. We do not want to distract or take away from this critical need. The library needs are great as well, however, and the plan to renovate is still very much necessary and desirable. The current focus is raising the funds to reinforce the floors, as the safety of patrons, staff and anyone entering the building is a top priority. We are approaching the target goal to get this project done. 

So that is where the elevator is – stuck in limbo, until the funds are in place. The question is, how do you feel about Mt Caesar Union Library? Do you think a renovated, handicap accessible library is important? Do you wish children in this community to have access to programming and services that they deserve? We would like to do this and more for our Town. We hope that you also desire these things, and support Town funding of the renovation of the library.  We would welcome your involvement in whatever way you can.  Please feel free to contact the Next Chapter Campaign chair, Kathy Habiby at kshabiby@ne.rr.com or telephone 603-357-8778, or Mary Wood, Chair of the Board of Trustees at mary33wood@gmail.com or 603-357-0476.  Thank you for your attention and action on this very important matter.

2/8/21
Capital Campaign Update
     The Campaign, while a bit slowed at the moment, is not dead in the water.  The mailing sent out in lieu of the actual Books in Bloom Garden Party last Fall generated a bit over $8,000.  In addition, we received a $10,000 matching grant form the 1772 Foundation for original window renovations, $2500 from the Savings Bank of Walpole, and $15,000 from the Richards Foundation.   Sadly, we did not receive the LCHIP funding again this year and we came away from that with the strong suggestion that we need to get the Town more involved.
     All the windows have now been renovated and can easily be opened and closed, and while they have not been installed as yet, new storm windows and screens have been ordered and should be installed any day now.  Because we are working in baby steps,, our next focus will be on reinforcing the floors.  The Building Inspector warned us that this is a cause for concern.
     The 3rd annual Books in Bloom Garden Soiree fundraiser will be held Sunday, 9/19/2021, pandemic permitting.  If gathering in person remains unsafe at that point, an online auction will be held.

11/15/18
Mt. Caesar Union Library Announces Capital Campaign

     In response to a strategic planning survey, Mt. Caesar Union Library (MCUL) is pleased to announce the start of a Capital Campaign to raise significant funds for renovation of the library located next to Swanzey Town Hall at 628 Old Homestead Hwy.
     In June 2018, the MCUL Board of Trustees determined to move forward to develop a strategic plan for the library.  A committee was formed, composed of 22 community members including library users, educators, a representative of social services, representatives of Town and State government, clergy, homeschoolers, veterans, library friends and Trustees.  A community survey was developed and conducted randomly throughout the town and was available online and at the library as well.  An overwhelming number of responders expressed the need to improve physical access to, and functionality within the building, focusing on ADA access, better space for children and better access to the many antiquities stored in the basement.
     In September, a launch party was held to present a vision to a small group of friends of the library, and out of that a Capital Campaign Committee (CCC) was formed to begin the campaign.  Given the scope of the many needs identified in the survey, the campaign is targeting $1.5 million in gifts and donations.
     The library building was built in 1843 as the Mt. Caesar Seminary for boys and in 1880 was sold to a small group of ladies known as the Mt. Caesar Union Library Association for $1.  Today it remains a private library, not a Town-owned library, yet as a public library for Swanzey, per NH statutes, it receives annual funding from the Town of Swanzey to support its operation.  In addition to approximately $78,500 annually in Town support, MCUL also relies on a small endowment, community donations, and book sales to help fund its operation.
     Upgraded facilities will provide improved physical access to the building, enhanced educational access to students and homeschooling families, space for added community activities, and the debut of a museum display for the currently-stored collection of local antiquities.  To accomplish this goal, the CCC is working in collaboration with a well-known local architect, Katie Cassidy Sutherland and her team to develop a plan to preserve the historical character of the building on the outside while enhancing the functionality inside.  Current plans call for adding a second story over the existing addition to the building, renovating the second and third floors of the main building, and adding an elevator to provide access throughout.  Accessible bathrooms will be on all floors.  Solar panels will complement energy-efficient measures and provide sustainability.  Understanding that an enhanced facility will incur more expenses in its annual operation, the campaign includes substantially increasing the library's endowment fund to help insure adequate operating funds into the future.
     It is envisioned that funding for the campaign and these goals will come from private donors including foundations, private trusts, businesses, and friends of the Library.
     For further information, please email or call either of the CCC co-chairs:
Ken Goebel      860-384-1523   kgoebel51@gmail.com
Kathy Habiby   603-357-8778   kshabiby@ne.rr.com    
Door bells
Goodnight, Moon
Swanzey antiques