Community building happens in a community building.
We are expanding our building to fit more community!
CLICK LINK BELOW FOR VIDEO OF THE APRIL TOUR OF THE CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS:
CLICK DRAWINGS FOR LARGER IMAGE.
CLICK IMAGES BELOW FOR MORE INFO.
FUNDRAISING:
CLICK IMAGES BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION.
To read more about the Capital Campaign, and how to support the project, please CLICK HERE, and thank you for helping us help you.
Please keep in mind that a capital campaign donation is a gift toward this building project only. It is different from a donation to the Friends which supports library programs or the Tilton Fund Annual Appeal which supports the annual operating budget.
Library Building Program PDF
Case Statement PDF
Today and Tomorrow
Library Project PowerPoint 2016
Library Project UPDATED SLIDE SHOW 2022
Libraries Are Essential Town Service
2022 SPECIAL TOWN MTG PRESENTATION
Design Public Forum May 16, 2023
Building Committee Mtg May 30,2023
“Greenfield Savings Bank is proud to support the Tilton Library Capital Campaign. The Tilton Library is creating an enhanced community treasure which will serve future generations. I’m excited that the renovation will ensure that the library meets the anticipated needs of the greater Deerfield community. Our region will benefit from this beloved institution for years to come.”
– Thomas J. Meshako, CEO & President
In August 2014, a $41,205 Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners Planning and Design Grant was awarded to Tilton Library. A required $20,600 supplement was funded by Tilton Fund, Inc.
Shortly after the award was announced, library trustees appointed a seven member Needs Assessment Ad Hoc Committee which interviewed and recommended an owner’s project manager and an architectural firm.
The firm, Johnson Roberts, Associates, Inc. of Somerville has prepared an initial design using the approved and accepted library building program.
This initial design and results of site studies were used to apply for a Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program Construction Grant Round in January 2017. At the July 13, 2017 meeting of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, the Deerfield project was placed on the Waiting List, with a rank of #12 of 24. for a $3,944,338 provisional grant award, which would cover 50% of the project cost as estimated in 2017.
On July 7, 2022, after close to 15 years of hard work by many people, we got the opportunity to improve and expand our beloved library to be even better, with a one-time state library construction grant of $4 million dollars! Our heartfelt thanks to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) for joining us in this new vision for an expanded Tilton Library. Thank you to all who have helped us get to this point.
December 7, 2022 Update: There was a special town meeting on Monday October 24, where the project passed by two-thirds majority. Then there was a special ballot election on December 6, where the project passed by a simple majority. Thank you, Deerfield!
August 2023 Update: The Town of Deerfield signed a contract with the MBLC in order to accept the first of five payments of the grant and move forward with the project. The Building Committee was developed by the Trustees and appointed by the Selectboard. This committee – made up of members of various town boards and Deerfield residents – are working with the architect and project manger to make design decisions, and keep construction schedule and costs in line. They will make recommendations for the Library Trustees to approve. A REVISED SCHEMATIC DESIGN was approved (CLICK drawings above to see larger image).
July 2024 Update: CONSTRUCTION IS HAPPENING! As a kickoff to the construction, a groundbreaking ceremony was held in May celebrate this momentous occasion. Very exciting! We will provide regular updates here as construction progresses. We are now open in our temporary location at 71 North Main Street at the former Congregational Church (enter in the back) for our normal hours. Here we will be able to provide most of what our patrons are used to: a portion of our collection and programs for all ages, as well as delivery of holds from other libraries.
March 2025 Update: EXTERIOR CONSTRUCTION IS NEAR COMPLETION! The exterior brick walls, windows, roofing, interior walls, HVAC, and floors of the new building are finished. The parking lot is in place with asphalt poured in December. As this progresses the building expansion is becoming much more visible to the community. Each step brings us closer to creating a more spacious, modern, and welcoming library for Deerfield residents. We are thrilled to see such steady progress on our library project. Thank you for your continued support and patience as we work to complete this important project. We are scheduled to open doors to the public in mid-summer and we can’t wait for you to visit!
