Project Overview
Building Project News and Events

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Durham Public Library is On the Move! April 22, 2011 After more than a decade in what was intended to be a “temporary” storefront location at the Mill Plaza, the Durham Public Library is about to make the long-awaited move to a facility that more appropriately reflects our citizens’ values and needs. The former home of Dr. Arthur DiMambro at 49 Madbury Road will be adapted and an addition will be constructed to create a facility that will significantly increase the library’s contributions to the quality of life in our community. The new library project, including improvements to the existing house on the site and construction of an attached two-story addition, will create a total 10,500 square feet of space, with off-street parking for up to 50 vehicles. The addition will be compatible with the existing building’s style and brick façade and there is room on the property for future expansion. The building is designed for a 100-year life spanand incorporates many “green” elements equivalent to LEED standards, including energy-efficient mechanical and lighting systems and windows, durable exterior finishes and a highly insulated envelope to hold down operating and maintenance costs. Large windows will provide abundant natural light as well as views of the beautiful grounds. An attractive courtyard will be a pleasant area on nice days for reading, conversation and outdoor activities. The building also has been carefully sited to preserve the small historic graveyard on the property. A Rain Garden will also provide a buffer to protect the wetlands.   The new building will create a more efficient and comfortable experience for patrons, and will enable the library to offer a wider array of materials, services and programs for all ages and segments of the community. The library will continue to provide traditional programs and services in the future, and will also offer access to the very latest technological tools to help citizens keep pace with constantly evolving innovation. The larger facility will be a lively center of learning and enrichment. Best of all, the new library will bring the community together to enjoy an array of wholesome educational, cultural and social activities. In many ways, the new library will contribute significantly to Durham’s sense of community, cited as a key element of the town’s vision in the Master Plan approved in 2000. “Sense of community can be defined as a combination of identity, image, and connections and sense of belonging. Identity is how we see ourselves as a community, who we are, and what is important and valuable to us. Image is how we are seen as a Town, how we look, and how we are remembered. Connections and sense of belonging is an awareness of, involvement in, and understanding of the community in which we live.” (Durham Master Plan, Chapter 2.2) The design has been carefully chiseled to reduce the overall size of the new building, while providing for the range of space needs identified in the detailed library space program that was developed in detail last fall with community input, and guidance from an experienced library planning consultant. Many new or expanded libraries have been built in other small towns across New Hampshire over the past decade. The size and functions proposed in this design are in keeping with the successes in these communities, where huge increases in patronage have typically occurred. To view the entire project booklet, Click here.

Library Building Project Learn about the Durham Public Building Project process, the steps taken thus far, the purchase of the site, our work with a library consultant, architects, contractor, Building Committee, Citizens Library Building Review Committee, and interested Durham residents. Project news articles are posted below.

Send Us Your Thoughts Do you have any suggestions or questions for us as the building project progresses? We'd love to hear from you. To send us an email, Click here. "Please have a bird statue somewhere in the yard." -Durham resident, age 6

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Meeting with Town Council November 18, 2010 On Monday November 8th, Doug Bencks, Chair of the Library Board of Trustees, and Tom Madden, Durham Public Library Director, had the opportunity to discuss the progress that has been made on the library building project thus far and our expectations for the future. Items discussed included our work with a library consultant, fundraising, the hiring of a design/build team, and building size. For more information, Click here.	Library Consultant Facilitates Focus Groups October 7, 2010 The Library Board of Trustees have contracted with consultant Nolan Lushington to prepare a library building program for the new facility being planned for the recently purchased property at 49 Madbury Road. Mr. Lushington visited the Durham Public Library on the weekend of October 1-3 to facilitate four focus groups and tour the property . For more information, Click here. For Library Building Program document, Click here.
Future Library Site Acquired September 3, 2010 Earlier this summer the Town of Durham and Mr. Arthur DiMambro entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (P&S Agreement) for Mr. DiMambro’s property at 49 Madbury Road as the potential future site for the Durham Public Library. For more information, Click here.	Council Approves Purchase of 49 Madbury Road for Library July 13, 2010 The Town Council unanimously approved a motion to support the Durham Public Library Board of Trustees purchase of the property at 49 Madbury Road for the purpose of building a new public library. For more information, Click here.
Town to Purchase Site for New Library DURHAM — A decade in the works, the town this week announced it has agreed to purchase land on Madbury Road for a new library. The $600,000 transaction will be paid with private donations raised by the Durham Public Library Board of Trustees. For more information, Click here.	What is Your Public Library Worth to You? Libraries throughout New Hampshire offer a variety of entertainment and educational materials at a very economical rate. The average New Hampshire taxpayer contributes about $26 in taxes per year to fund public libraries and their services. To find out how much would you need to pay out-of-pocket if you had to purchase books, movies and other library services, Click here.

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