NEWPORT – The staff and trustees of the Richards Free Library, 58 N. Main St., have been sending out a community SOS for years about the condition of the three roofs comprising the library itself and sister organization, the Library Arts Center Gallery and Studio.
Just as the library’s Board of Trustees were in the process of gathering bids and defining the scope of work needed, the roof began to leak. The resulting damage to books totals $1,200. A huge tarp is covering part of a public book stack and there is damage to storage and studio areas at the Arts Center.
“This area [with the tarp] is one of four leaks at the library,” Library Director Justine Farara said. “The Arts Center has leaks, too. There are really three roofs here – the old mansion, the expansion [stack room], and the Art Center/old carriage house. The roofs are copper and slate; both are expensive to replace.”
Farara said the staff and trustees have been patching small leaks for years. The library had put out a notice for bids, and the trustees had decided to use GDC Slate and Copper in Deering, NH., in February.
“We talked to the town about a warrant article in March,” she said. “The Board of Selectmen agreed to support it. Then, the big leak in stacks was discovered in April. The time is now to save this town treasure.”
She added that the library was addressing the roofs prior to the failures.
“Our goal was to proactively do repairs before the roofs caused major damage,” she said. “Now, some major damage has occurred. Every time it rains, we know what we will come in to find.”
At the town election on May 9, voters will be able to vote up or down Article 13 for $189,400 to pay for the repairs. On its website, the library has both a presentation on the GDC quote and a full breakdown of 37 roof issues to be fixed.
“We are hoping the community will help make a full fix possible,” she said.
Slate maintenance: Bringing the roof back to a standard for proper insurance compliance, $78,000.
Copper roof work: To standard of proper insurance compliance, $68,000.
EPDM rubber roof repairs: $42,000.
Masonry Chimney Restoration: $18,000.
Carpentry: Exterior rot and millwork, $10,000.
Total of $216,000 with $21,000 from the library’s Rollins Maintenance Fund, a $5,000 historical repair grant and the Article 13 support funding [if yes vote].
Specific work needed to save these historic structures, the books and memorabilia it holds, and to continue to provide the programming and events hosted at the Arts Center, include:
Slate repair and maintenance.
Rubber roof repair and failure points where joined to other roofing materials.
Complete repointing of chimney and replacement of cover, which has failed.
Repair of flashing failures open to the weather at the chimney, dormer and rubber roof.
Slate valley needs restoration and repair/removal of improper sealants used in previous valley repairs.
Copper roof failure due to age. Specific areas include dormer flashing lines, ice belt to copper roof transition fixed, and repair work to right hand dormer slate work at apron and sides defective.
Repair of dormer flashing walls that are compromised.
General maintenance of all areas, including masonry.
Historical-grade exterior millwork for siding damage and other work.
If Article 13 does not pass, Fafara said the library would have to shoulder the load on its own, perhaps by arranging for a personal loan for the project. She added that grant monies might be available, but obtaining those would be a challenge.
Combined, the library and the Arts Center serve about 35,000 users/visitors annually, with usage growing at both venues.
“This is truly a community gem,” Executive Director of the Library Arts Center Kate Luppold said. “People are here every day. T he two organizations are an anchor for Newport. Seeing it in disrepair isn’t giving our community what it deserves. This is a tremendous asset.”
