Somerville residents were updated on the latest design plans for the West Branch Library last Wednesday, and many questioned some of the choices made by the planners involved. — Photo by Josie Grove

By Josie Grove

One should not judge a book by its cover, but Davis Square-area residents were quick to judge the proposed addition to the West Branch Library by its exterior and landscape. Many of the hundred-odd neighbors gathered in the Tufts Administration building last Wednesday were vehemently opposed to the addition to the library, and expressed skepticism about the value of new programs it would enable. Although the design was selected from four options based on input from community members, neighbors at the meeting were upset about the proposed addition and reworked grounds.

“Let’s not play ‘yell at the designers,’” implored Ward 6 Alderman Lance Davis, but that is exactly what ensued. Scarcely five minutes into the designers’ presentation, neighbors lobbed loaded questions at them, such as, “Tell me how in good conscience you can cut down a hundred-year-old-tree.” The tree in question is a Norway maple at the back of the library’s lot, which would probably have to be cut down to accommodate the addition.

“We’re arguing about a hundred-year-old tree, but let’s think about what we’re gaining,” said resident Tom Sackton. The addition would include more restrooms and a 130-seat “community room,” which Somerville Library Director Glenn Ferdman says would create space for more programs at the West Branch, such as lectures and ESL classes. West Branch Library manager Karen Kramer said, “I think the library and the patrons who use the library would benefit so much from a dedicated program space.” Ferdman added that the room would relieve pressure on the large meeting room at the Central Library. That room, Ferdman said, is the only large meeting room in the Somerville library system and is booked constantly with both library programs and community events. But despite the benefits of a program space, that tree and two others remained a major source of tension at the meeting.

Questions about the necessity to cut down trees and discussion over the value of large meeting spaces punctuated the debate at the meeting.

Residents asked about other configurations of the building, in the hopes of accommodating both library patrons and trees. Austin Ward of DesignLAB Architects parried each suggestion, saying his firm had considered different arrangements, but each posed significant challenges in safe egress, security, and would limit library programming.

Several residents challenged the need for a large meeting room in the library and urged the city to find other meeting space in West Somerville.

Ferdman and the designers explained that they had collected comments from the past year of community meetings, but several residents felt that those meetings had not been well-publicized and said they had not registered their opinions. A few residents suggested a show of hands at the meeting to determine whether or not there should be a community room at the library. Others noted that finding childcare was difficult, and so many parents were not able to make the meeting and could not show their hands for or against the addition. One resident asked for an email survey to be distributed.

King said there were difficulties in sending out an email survey: how would it reach residents without regular computer access, the very people the West Branch library wants to better serve? He said he would work with the city’s communications department to collect more comments about the West Branch Library, using a more inclusive strategy.

Addition aside, the renovation would make the building more accessible to disabled people, and adapt to the changing technology needs of library users. Kathy Van Sleet, president of the library’s board of trustees, asked neighbors to consider the technological differences between today and the 1970s, when the library was last renovated. For Van Sleet, technology in the library can close the gap those who have computers and those who do not. “The library is serving to bridge the digital divide,” she said.

The project will cost $10 million total, $5 million for the renovation and $5 million for the addition. Half the cost of the renovation will be covered by funding from the Community Preservation Act, and the remaining $7.5 million will go before the Board of Aldermen for approval.

The meeting was tense, and residents voiced strong opinions both in favor of and opposed to the project. Despite the lack of consensus shown at the meeting, King said he hopes to break ground in the spring of 2017. Residents are invited to send feedback to Rob King at rking@somervillema.gov.