Black Watch Memorial Library begins expansion

TICONDEROGA | Thanks to an anonymous donation of $50,000, the Black Watch Memorial Library is moving forward with an expansion that has been 10 years in the making. The expansion, dubbed the "6 Carnegie Place Project" by library trustee Steve Boyce, will be an ambitious endeavor that will make the library even more of a must-see destination for residents and visitors alike. "Our mission is to inspire lifelong learning, to increase the knowledge of the community, and to strengthen the community," said Boyce. "I see this project as helping to do all of those things." The plot of land behind the library, currently a dirt road and two abandoned buildings, will one day be realized as the library's children's Storybook Walk, and also hold a multi-use building for residents to utilize for a variety of purposes in the creative realm. The anonymous monetary donation was done with the intention that the Town of Ticonderoga, which owns the property the library resides on, would purchase the vacant land area for the sole purpose of bringing the dreamed-about expansion to life. "Having a Storybook Walk has been a goal of ours for a very long time," said Heather Johns, Black Watch librarian. The question was always where to put it? When the property came up on the market, Boyce and Johns knew it would be ideal. Now, having been in possession of the property for six months, demolition is slated to begin on the first building. It will be torn completely down, opening up the space for the Storybook Walk, re-landscaped and completely re-imagined. With posts built into the terrain, the walk will have 10 or 12 different stations featuring pages out of a particular book for children to enjoy, and will be changed seasonally throughout the year. "We also want to create more open outside reading space for library patrons," said Boyce, pointing to the back of the library and the row of trees that currently border the old property line. As for the second multi-use building, Boyce says that is in the initial planning stages and the library will be seeking out community input. According to Boyce, that will not be torn down, as it has good bones. He foresees the building to be used as a meeting space, a creative space for crafts, and a place where people can use items such as sewing machines or more sophisticated printing equipment — whatever the community feels is necessary and would like to have access to. A survey will be available online and through the library's Facebook page. "Anything we can offer that is above and beyond what people currently get here will be great for them. The more people feel comfortable here, the more they can take advantage of our resources," said Johns. "It would be nice to know what the community feels they would like. We don't know what people feel is lacking unless they share that with us." The 6 Carnegie Place Project is included in the Downtown Revitalization Initiative if Ticonderoga is awarded the grant. If not, however, Boyce says the library will still be moving ahead and will be reliant on other grants and community contributions to keep the fund the project. "Having something like this will strengthen the community by making the library a destination where people can come," said Boyce of the expansion. "We know if they stop here at the library, they may stop for lunch and stop for shopping. It's another way to use the library, and certainly, the Storybook Walk will improve literacy for early readers — it also provides something for families." Those who would like to donate to the 6 Carnegie Place Project may contact Heather Johns at 518-585-7880.

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Black Watch Memorial Library begins expansion

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