The new 12,000-square-foot Woodstock library, triple the size of its longtime Library Lane home, is counting on donations to plug a $295,000 shortfall caused by federal budget cuts that it needs to complete a project more than three years in the making.
“We will get that money,” said Marcia Pattern, secretary of the library’s board of trustees. “We have a lot of generous people and we’re going to make it happen, one way or another.”
Library officials had expected the funds to be reimbursed through the Division of Library Development, which is overseen by the Institute of Library and Museum Service. In March, however, the Trump Administration said it would shrink or dissolve the institute, removing a major source of funds for libraries across the nation.
That left the Woodstock Library on its own to fund the rest of its new $3.95 million home at 10 Dixon Ave., about a mile from its previous location at 5 Library Lane. It bought the site from an investment firm for $2.6 million in 2022, leaving $1.35 million for construction costs, plus another $1.3 million that the board raised from donors. It aims to open in September.
While the Government Accountability Office said this week that the Trump decision violated the law, it’s unclear whether the administration will fight that finding in court. In the meantime, the library has begun offering public preview tours that it hopes will spur donations.
“The current library is really small,” said Kelsey Ott who frequents the former space with her daughter and recently toured the new building. “This is a lot more spacious and it’s kind of separated as far as, kids can be here, kids can be there.”
Granted, the project isn’t without its critics who have noted, among other issues, that the new building isn’t easily accessible to kids on bicycles because busy Route 212 lacks sidewalks. Library Director Ivy Gocker said she’s working with UCAT to add the site to its bus route.
Still, the new library offers far more parking than it did at its previous incarnation, as well as a generator and a high-speed internet connection. It’s also compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and has room for children’s programs, private spaces for studying that can be reserved in advance, a community room, six bathrooms and a so-called makerspace where visitors can engage in projects such as sewing and soldering.
In addition, historic and musical archives of Woodstock artists will be taken out of storage and have their own space in the building and the library will also offer financial literacy programs. The lawn of the former site, owned by the Bearsville Center’s Lizzie Van, will remain open to be used for library events and the public.
“There are certain things in the space we weren’t able to have because of the limitations of the old library,” said Sam Taylor, a development consultant for the project. “It’s going to enhance a lot of programming.”
Mia Quick is an intern and contributing reporter. You can reach her at reporting@theoverlooknews.com.
