Pequot Library Plans for the Future

What is Pequot Library and what is its mission?

Pequot Library is a valued community institution that has provided community meeting space and library services to Fairfield residents for 116 years. It has had a four-part mission since its founding and the Library’s new plan preserves that core mission. The plan focuses on quality, not quantity: the collection size is not increased and the auditorium is not expanded. Rather, the plan addresses shortcomings created by current demand and usage in the existing building.

What are the components of the four-part mission and how does the plan address them?

1. Mission: To provide a cultural community gathering space.

Plan:The Library’s Auditorium is a unique space to Fairfield. The auditorium hosts music concerts, student recitals, local groups lectures and community forums, dance classes for children, and literary programs. However, the Library suffers from a lack of off-street parking, and its current parking lot is a dead-end with limited turn-around space. The Library’s plan addresses those traffic shortcomings.

2. Mission: To provide an adult and popular reading collection and reading space.

Plan: The existing Library building is cramped – for both book storage and for reading space. For example, the Library was forced to convert a reading room to office space; the Library’s circulating collection is scattered throughout the building; the lower and upper levels of the building can only be accessed except by stairs (difficult for seniors, impossible for those in a wheelchair or with children in strollers); and the few computer workstations are tiny. The Library’s plan solves these problems.

3. Mission: To provide a rare book collection.

Plan: The Library owns a nationally-recognized, outstanding collection of Americana and related rare books and materials – but the most important part of that collection (800 volumes) is housed at Yale University, and the rest is stored in the Library’s existing building in various areas, none of which offers the proper care for the collection or can be readily accessed for scholarly research. The Library’s plan brings all materials into to a temperature and humidity controlled “rare book room” that offers security for the collection without compromising access.

4. Mission:To provide children’s programming.

Plan: The Library offers a great children’s collection and a variety of children’s programming and activities – but in a confined space. The Library plans a significant improvement to its children’s space that includes lower shelf heights so that children can finally reach all the books in the collection, more visibility for supervision, and age-appropriate spaces to accommodate children from toddlers through teens.

Who created this plan?

The Library’s plan was developed over the course of many years. Throughout this planning period, the community has been involved through focus groups, surveys, and neighborhood meetings. In addition, a thorough study of Library needs was conducted by volunteers, the Board, staff members, and library design professionals. The resulting plan incorporates in the most efficient and cost-effective manner the solutions to the needs defined during the planning process.

Will the Library building change?

The plan includes restoration and renovation of the existing Library building. A small addition will be constructed to the north (towards the railroad tracks) and west sides of the building (adjacent to the current children’s room). The addition will complement, without mimicking, the existing architecture. The parking lot will expand to the railroad tracks and to the east border of the property, but will not encroach into the lawn in front of the Library.