Big changes on the books for the Winooski Memorial Library

WINOOSKI, Vt. (WCAX) - Big changes are slated to come to Winooski. Our Laura Ullman went to the O’Brien Community Center to learn about the $17.5 million renovation project.

“Among communities in Vermont with populations of at least 5,000 or more, the Winooski library ranks nearly last in the square footage we offer to the community,” said Nate Eddy, the library director.

Also ranking last in books per capita and staffing allowance, Eddy says the Winooski Memorial Library has been due an upgrade for a while, and now that upgrade is coming free to taxpayers.

Brother and sister Oliver and Cambria Berbeco say they visit the library a lot and welcome a bigger space.

“I would like it because we could skip a lot,” said Cambria, a kindergartner.

“And have more space to run around,” agreed Oliver, a second grader.

The building will be torn down and completely rebuilt with an expansion to the collection, new meeting rooms and technology.

The library’s expansion is part of a larger plan to redevelop the O’Brien Community Center. The city of Winooski hopes to sell the lot to the Champlain Housing Trust before the end of the summer.

“We have needed some extra support in terms of just managing the facility. It’s not something that’s really been our forte, and so I think this partnership just makes a ton of sense moving forward to try and improve the building and keep it as an active important resource for residents here,” said Ray Coffey, Winooski’s director of community services.

The O’Brien Center has a community health and dental clinic, community kitchen and event space-- all of which will be renovated.

Champlain Housing Trust CEO Michael Monte says the planned construction will also open space for nonprofit offices.

“Because we were operating in the Old North End Community Center, we now have some experience on how to do it and what to do. Really what we can do is real estate in a way that responds to the community,” Monte said.

The new library is expected to be completed by 2025. The city is still working on keeping the resources available during construction.

“Regardless of what they’re here for, we’re always here for them,” Eddy said.

While the final plans for the community center and sale are still underway, the Winooski Memorial Library believes renovations will start in March 2025.

Copyright 2024 WCAX. All rights reserved.