By KENNEDY GRIFFIN
(Orange, MA) Orange residents will be voting on a new library renovation project November 8th. The current library, Wheeler Memorial Library at 49 E Main Street was built in 1914 and is not ADA compliant, has no staff space, only one bathroom and is almost 8,000 square feet. The town is seeking to renovate the library and bring it up to 20,000 square feet and ADA compliance.
The project would cost an estimated $15.6 million. The town is eligible for a $5.2 million grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, leaving the town with a $10.4 million burden on the taxpayers. If the town votes in support of the project in the November 8th election, it will move forward to a special town meeting in December where it will need a two thirds vote.