ReImagine, ReNew and RePurpose: Greenwich Main Library Includes Remarkable New Features

The Campaign to ReImagine, ReNew and RePurpose Greenwich Library at 101 West Putnam Ave will add remarkable new features designed by Peter Gisolfi Associates.

Improvements and new facilities will be found throughout the library, all within its existing footprint. Construction is carefully phased to minimize disruption so that many areas of the main building can remain open for public use.

The improvements will be supported by private donations committed through the Capital Campaign, donor designated gifts, a portion of the Library’s reserves, and funds allocated by the Town of Greenwich Capital Improvement Budget.

The transformative improvements are designed to meet the community’s evolving needs, adding new features and expanding public space.

“At a time when the veracity of news sources is under siege, and information on every imaginable topic is available at our fingertips, libraries nationally are riding a cloud of popularity.” – Robert Marks, president, Board of Trustees and Library Director Barbara Ormerod-Glynn

They refer to a Pew Research poll that reported 78% of Americans believe public libraries help them find information that is trustworthy and reliable. Among 18 to 35-year-olds, that trust is even greater; 85% of Millennials say librarians help them learn new things. Additionally, 65% of US  adults say libraries help them grow as people.

Improvements planned for the Main Library respond to what patrons have expressed wanting, and to the ways the Library is used today, incorporating best practices in the field along with innovative design.

The Executive Committee of Greenwich Library’s ReImagine, ReNew, and RePurpose Campaign gathered at the Library on Sunday, June 23 to thank friends and supporters and celebrate the start of the renovation and renewal of the main library.

Pictured: (1st row l to r) Library Director Barbara Ormerod-Glynn, Anne Farrell, Haley Elmlinger. (2nd row l to r) Andy Herr, Rob Marks, David Brownwood.

Pictured: (1st row l to r) Library Director Barbara Ormerod-Glynn, Anne Farrell, Haley Elmlinger. (2nd row l to r) Andy Herr, Rob Marks, David Brownwood.

The redesigned Baxter Courtyard leads to a new Café and Center for Education & Culture

The redesigned Baxter Courtyard leads to a new café and Center for Education & Culture. Rendering from Greenwich Library website

The auditorium will become a true Theater with new seating, flooring, ceiling, and walls; two aisles to improve access; and state-of-the-art audio-visual technology as part of a new Center for Education & Culture on the lower level. Rendering from Greenwich Library website