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North Adams Library to Unveil Newly Redecorated Parlor

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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Update: The reception and all other events at the library have been canceled at least through April 30. 
 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The public library will hold a dedication and reception Friday afternoon to mark the completion of the reading parlor.
 
The Friends of the North Adams Public Library have invited the public to a special reception and dedication of the reading parlor to Evelyn Gooch, a longtime member of the Friends.
 
"Evelyn loved reading and the library," Friends President Bonnie Rennell said in an email. "When she passed away at the age of 101, her family and friends made a substantial donation to the Friends to honor her memory."
 
Gooch died in 2018. Her family made a $10,000 donation to the Friends that was used to hire an interior decorator to draw up some plans to refresh the space. 
 
The room at the front of the original part of mansion was closed for some months so the room could be wallpapered and spruced up. New furniture will be installed at a later date.
 
The event on Friday starts at 2 p.m.
 
Library Director Sarah Sanfilippo said on Wednesday the reception is still on at the moment but things could change with the COVID-19 outbreak.
 
She added there is no plan to close the library but they are monitoring the virus and its impact in the city. She said, in general, the library is following the city's lead and staff are taking sanitary precautions to keep the library clean as they always do.
 
"We here at the library are wiping down public surfaces (door handles, computers, tables, copiers, etc.)," she wrote in an email. "We always clean library materials when they are returned, so that is continuing as usual."

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North Adams Making Plans to Address Library Belvedere

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — With a $75,000 matching Mass Historic grant, city officials are moving closer to addressing the library's decrepit belvedere.
 
"This is the closest we have ever been so for me, being part of this process since 1992, it is very exciting, and I hope you are excited too," Mayor Jennifer Macksey said.
 
"... We used to say from a distance, it looks beautiful. Now from a distance, you can see it worn."
 
On Thursday, Macksey met with the library trustees to hold early discussions on how to fund the project which was originally estimated to cost $375,000. Macksey hopes to use a mix of Sale of City Owned Property Account funds and money from Cariddi bequest to make up the difference.
 
"As time goes on and as this project evolves, we'll see where dollars fall or other opportunities fall," she said. "My biggest fear is that it's going to be over the $370,000 in the sense of where we are with construction in general … So we do have some funds available, but once we get to bids then we'll really drill down on the price. We certainly don't want to exhaust the Cariddi fund."
 
After bids are opened and a clearer understanding of the total project cost is established, the cost split can be discussed.
 
She said other grants could become available later. While she's open to borrowing to finish the project, she prefers to use existing funds. 
 
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