Abbott Library

Response to Anonymous Mailer

To the Residents of Sunapee:
A mailer was recently delivered to Sunapee residents, asking residents not to support the concept of creating a new Library by renovating the Old Town Hall. The mailer does not identify its source or fiscal agent, as is customary. The mailer includes several incorrect “facts” and provides some incomplete information, both a disservice to the residents of Sunapee. Please consider:
Roger Landry, Town Zoning Administrator, has confirmed that the Old Town Hall property is NOT in the flood plain.
• The concept plan calls for an increased setback from Main Street, enlarging the entryway and sidewalk in front of the building.
• Renovating the Old Town Hall as a library is feasible, cost effective, and will create ample space for a library. The concept plan provides for reinforcement of the building’s structure, removal and replacement of the building structure below the Main Street level, and new wings on the east (old police station) and north side of the building. At the Main Street level and above, the building structure and interior paneling will remain, while roofing, siding and windows will be replaced. The clock tower and horse ramp, character defining historic features of the building, will be preserved.

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Library in Old Town Hall

An advisory warrant article has been placed on the March 2010 warrant regarding the new library project and it reads as follows:

Article 23: Do you favor expanding the previously-approved library Harbor site to include the adjacent Old Town Hall property, renovating the Old Town Hall for a library while preserving the horse ramp and clock tower, reserving a portion of the building for other town uses, while continuing to seek private funding? This article is advisory only and intends to provide the Library Trustees, the Old Town Hall Committee, and the Select Board with a sense of voters opinion.

Please follow this link to all Building Committee Minutes and other documents related to this project.

Rendering by James Wassell

Please click on the links below to see the various sketches of the concept plan.


North- Main Street	South River View by James Wassell
East View by Diana Piotrow	West Elevation by Diana Piotrow
Building Section by Diana Piotrow	Riverway Level
Floor Plans by James Wassell	Mezzanine Level
Site Plan by James Wassell

Big Read NH -March 2010

Libraries, schools, bookstores and other organizations throughout New Hampshire will be holding events during March 2010 as part of “The Big Read: New Hampshire Reads To Kill a Mockingbird,” a statewide program organized by the Center for the Book at the New Hampshire State Library. The library has multiple copies of the book available so please stop by for one today.

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) that gives communities all over the United States the opportunity to come together and read, discuss and celebrate one of 30 great works of literature.

The Center for the Book at the New Hampshire State Library received a grant from the NEA to coordinate this statewide project. The Center for the Book chose to focus on To Kill a Mockingbird not only because it is a great coming of age story but also because of the many topics of discussion it inspires: who is a hero, the importance of standing up for what is right, the role of defense attorneys in society, relationships between the races, courage, justice and more.

For more information about “The Big Read: New Hampshire Reads To Kill a Mockingbird,” including the calendar of events taking place throughout the state, links to follow the project on Twitter and Facebook, information about the many project partners and links to the National Endowment for the Arts’ Big Read site, visit www.bigreadnh.org.