Construction News for the Month of May

Construction News at the Library:

Starting Monday, May 12th

Historical Entry Repair 

May will be a busy month of construction at the Conway Public Library. As many have likely noticed, scaffolding has been constructed around the historic entrance to the building. This marks the beginning of the final stage in the facade restoration project. It has taken several  

years to restore the damaged columns on the front of our nearly 125-year-old library, and it is a relief that this visible scar of a tragic accident that wounded the community will soon be healed.

Knowles Industrial will be onsite for the next 4-6 weeks, realigning the granite foundation blocks, repointing grout, and preparing for the column installation. The wooden support pillars will then be removed, and the new columns delivered and installed in a single piece. Because the original columns were hand-carved from brownstone that is no longer quarried, the new columns had to be fabricated from a cast stone material that is textured and colored to match. 3D scans of the existing columns were used to cast identical copies that will replace the damaged columns.

More Construction News

Starting Monday, May 19th

Parking Lot Improvements 

Within the next couple of weeks, work will also start on the Greenwood Ave side of the building. After hearing the clear need from our patrons for improved parking at the library, we are moving forward with the Department of Public Works to make improvements to our existing parking lot this spring.  

The new parking layout will remove a majority of the center island in the lot, replacing the underutilized space with diagonal parking and a sidewalk that will eventually run the full length of Greenwood Ave. Additionally, van accessible handicap parking will also be added near the existing book drop. We believe these changes will help ease parking congestion, improve pedestrian safety and access, and make snow removal more efficient. 

During the parking lot construction, one or two trees that show significant signs of disease and insect damage will also be removed from the Greenwood side of the library park. The library will be taking cuttings of each tree in an attempt to propagate them as part of a science observation project this summer. A new tree will also be added to the library park this month, planted in fond memory of long-time library patron and former trustee Judy Seddon and her husband, David. 

Library patrons should be aware that parking will be extremely limited during construction. Please be prepared to utilize the 2-hour parking along Greenwood Ave or park and walk from a nearby municipal lot, such as Town Hall.

The Conway Public Library never charges fines for overdue books, but if you are feeling guilty because you cannot get to the library due to the construction, just give us a call and we will renew your materials over the phone!

For the most up-to-date information about effects to library services during construction, please subscribe to the library’s newsletter, follow us on social media, or check our website before visiting: conwaypubliclibrary.org

Northern New Hampshire Library Cooperative Common Borrower Card

Your Conway Public Library card also grants you access to materials at the Ossipee, Jackson, Madison, and Cook Memorial (Tamworth) Libraries. Present your Conway library card to borrow items at any NNHLC library, or browse our shared catalog to request items be transferred to Conway for convenient pick-up.

Please note: Library cards are not required for admittance to programs, use of public access computers, or to borrow the Believe in Books Foundation Red Bags for children.