Keene Public Library moves forward with upgrades

KEENE | Since late 2016, Aaron Miller has been working to restore, upgrade, and modernize the Keene Public Library. "The library has been here for 121 years. It was built in 1904 for $500 using reclaimed materials," the library director shared. And like most historic buildings, time took its toll. "The roof was starting to slope. It was getting worse and worse every year that I was here." Due to this, the library had to close in November 2021 and temporarily relocate to the Keene Valley Library. With help from a $96,000 Library Construction Grant from New York State and bond funding from the former Upper Jay Methodist Church, the library reopened in July 2023 with a new roof and new commercial-grade laminate flooring, replacing the old utility carpeting. But the renovations didn't stop there. The bathroom, which had a rotting floor and a collapsed ceiling, was upgraded, and the old rolling bookshelves were replaced with new permanent ones. Most recently, thanks to a $50,000 grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, which was awarded this spring, a new mini-split system has been installed to enhance the building's heating and cooling capabilities. Installed in May, the library was able to enjoy its first summer with air conditioning. "We had one of those tiny little portable AC units off in the corner," Miller boasted. "Those do not work, especially for a building this size." And now with winter approaching, Miller is looking forward to having better heating after years of dealing with an old oil furnace. "Having better climate control year-round in the building is not only great for the patrons, but it's important for the preservation of the collection itself," Miller said. "Now it's a lot more energy efficient and just more comfortable overall. It's been a godsend." Late last month, the library upgraded its electrical panel from 100 amps to 200 amps. Now, Miller is preparing to initiate the next improvement project, which involves replacing the existing doors and windows and upgrading the insulation. "Before the heat would come on, you would get this blast of warm air coming at you; then the furnace would turn off, and you could almost immediately feel the temperature drop, probably like a degree or two every 10 minutes," Miller shared. "It's still an older building, so there will be drafts here and there. That's fine. We can manage that. But hopefully the insulation, along with the doors and windows, will mitigate quite a bit of that." Miller plans to install insulation not in the walls, but in the flooring and ceiling. "I don't think the walls could handle insulation; I think it's so old that it would need to be replaced, and we don't want to because it has real character," he said. "I'm really excited about this. It's going to be huge for us." Besides interior and exterior renovations, Miller has been considering other ways to improve the library, such as adding more programming, like a repair cafe — something that utilizes the resources and expertise the area already has to offer. Regardless of what's in store for the future, Miller is hopeful that more people will continue to utilize the many resources the area already offers. "Libraries have always run on shoestring budgets, especially in rural areas like ours," he said. "So, participate; come to the library; offer your services. Support your library by being at your library."

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Keene Public Library moves forward with upgrades

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