LIFT, Inc

LIFT, Inc. (Library Improvements for Tomorrow), established in 2006, fundraises for building improvements such as renovations to the present building.  LIFT is managed by the elected Library Board of Trustees, and monies raised are matched through the Public Library Fund of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.  LIFT is a non-profit 501C3 tax exempt organization, and donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

The Library Board of Trustees has established a memorial fund within LIFT to honor Coralie Gray, an eighteen year member of the Board who died in December 2007.  Funds will be used for renovations to half of the mezzanine to create a teen space and computer area there. 

What is LIFT?
LIFT stands for Library Improvement Fund for Tomorrow. It is a volunteer-driven, non-profit adjunct of the Board of Trustees that primarily focuses on physical improvements to the library. It operates in a public/private partnership with the Town of Wilbraham and the State of Massachusetts.

What are LIFT’s current priorities?
It has a dual but complimentary focus at this time.

First, it seeks to perform the maintenance that was deferred until the decision whether to expand the library was made. The projects – upgrading the heating and air conditioning systems, replacing windows, providing wheel-chair entry among others – are some seven years overdue. When they are completed they will help make the facility more user friendly, energy efficient and, therefore, less costly to operate.

The second focus is on renovating the interior to allow expansion and centralization of the teen programs and making the center of library interface with library patrons – primarily circulation and reference – vastly more efficient.

Why is space for teen programs important?
(Give brief highlights of the surge in use by the teen population.)

What will result from centralizing patron interface with library staff?
(Give examples.)

What is the completion date for these projects?
They will move forward as soon as funding is available. When that will happen is hard to predict in the current climate for local and state economies. Private funding is particularly important at this time.

What is the cost of these projects?
Current estimates for these projects is $XXX,XXX. The goal is to gather these resources over a three year period.

Are other projects being planned?
Yes. As soon as the current priorities are met, the children’s and adult areas will be upgraded.

Why are these areas not a current focus?
For a logical reason. What is being done is the first part of a two-phase project. The teen and administrative areas have to be completed to free space for the adult and children’s areas.

Will these renovations make it unnecessary to expand the library in the future?
Regrettably, no. The current maintenance and renovations were to be part of library expansion. They have been needed for many years. The result is that, to be able to meet the demand for expanded services, library holdings have been and are continuing to be reduced. In short, the library has had to curtail the breadth of books available to the public to strengthen its service to citizens of all ages.

An upside of the current program is that it will compliment any future expansion.

How can the citizens of Wilbraham help move these projects forward?
There are two ways: One is to be advocates for these initiatives in both the public and private arenas. The second is to make a tax deductible contribution to LIFT.

Where can I get more information?
(Answer to be inserted.)