Library Volunteers
In The NEWS

Virginia “Ginny” Eagan, Chair of the 1989 Building Committee, and Treasurer for the current Building Committee, was recently recognized as volunteer of the year by the Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association.

 Ms Eagan of Perfect Surroundings, Inc of Newport has been a volunteer on the association’s hospitality ball committee for several years. She has also assisted the Junior League of Fall River, Tiverton Women’s Community Club, St. Theresa’s Church, and Stop Over Services.

“Having a library in an open space, on the water with breathtaking views, surrounded by wonderful old trees is an amazingly beautiful and rare idea, especially for the children, teens, and elderly”

Barbara D. Donahue

Quoted from the Sakonnet Times
Letters to the Editor 5-19-05.p7

Thank you for taking the time to fill out the 1-page library survey that was mailed with the property tax bills.

Thank you to the Town Tax Collector
 for sending and accepting
 returns of the survey.

From the New Library Building Committee

As most residents are aware, since 1989 two successive building committees have sought a site for a new building to meet increasingly stringent State mandates for an adequate space to house all the services needed by a community of our size. (About 5,000 in 1938, when Essex was donated and built; about 15,000 in 2005.) The vision is for a parcel that would provide the best access for all residents from North, South, and East sides of Town.
RI Department of Transportation has a map of Tiverton available online. Aerial photos and topographic maps are available online from Terraserver.

There has been much discussion recently about the possible acquisition of the historic property known as St. James Convent, one of the parcels of land in Tiverton that has been proposed. In January of 2005, a Task Force was approved by the Council. In April, both the Building Committee and the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the request to consider this purchase, which would include a 5 acre site for a new library.

Grant funding, State funding, conservation easements and a public-private partnership similar to those involved in the acquisition/management of Glen Farm in Portsmouth, Third Beach in Middletown, and Pardon Gray in Tiverton, would be among the funding options to be investigated.

Attached is a copy of the Open Letter to Nanaquaket Neighborhood Residents,  reprinted with permission.

Open Letter to Nanaquaket Neighborhood Residents

By now you no doubt are aware that the Holy Union Sisters, who own the land at the north end of Nanaquaket Road known as St. James Convent, have offered the property for sale. They have sent prospectuses to a range of potential purchasers, including developers, schools, non-profits, etc. seeking bids for a speedy sale and settlement. In fact, already there have been a number of developers who have visited the site and who plan to make proposals.

A committee was formed, with Town Council sanction, comprised of representatives from the Town’s Open Space and Conservation Commissions along with others including the Tiverton Land Trust to explore ways in which the property can be protected from typical development such as large houses, condominiums and the like. The committee’s goal is to find ways to maintain its beauty and historic character while preserving open space for the citizens of Tiverton.

Briefly, the idea is to set aside 5 acres of the property for the construction of the new library, while the balance of the 16 acre parcel would remain as open space for the Town, and which may be funded via grants from a variety of federal, state, and private sources. The historic buildings would be saved for preservation and future use.

It is felt that, when combined with the proposed redevelopment of the waterfront area from the Sakonnet River Bridge to Grinnell Beach, the library located at St. James would go a long way toward creating a continuous revitalized waterfront for the Town. In addition to the library, the plan would provide an area for art and cultural events which the Town does not currently have.

Though this is a very basic outline, and much detail has to be worked out, the committee is asking for your input. With the initial proposal due very soon, it is important that we have the support of the neighborhood. Traffic may be one initial concern but, being at the very beginning of Nanaquaket, and the possibility of opening another entrance at the lower end of the property immediately after the bridge, traffic may not impact the road in any significant manner.

Please take a moment to call or write one of the committee members with your thoughts on this proposal. When doing so, it is important to remember the tradeoff: open space and a new library constructed in keeping with the nature of the Town, or large houses, condominiums, etc.

Please contact one of the committee members below:

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