Work has begun on Dighton's new library. Here's where the money's coming from.

DIGHTON — Town Administrator Michael Mullen said the historic Smith Memorial Hall renovation into Dighton's new public library is underway and will preserve the building’s 1889 façade.

"Renovations have been underway since Jan 1, including replacing all of the building’s historic red shingles,” he said.

The exterior improvement work also includes new soffits and insulation.

Mullen said these upgrades will help “restore Smith Memorial Hall’s historic exterior appearance, weatherproof the structure, increase its energy efficiency and protect the building for future use.”

The renovation of Smith Memorial Hall at 207 Main St. is occurring because Town Meeting voters approved a request from Dighton officials on June 6, 2022, to relocate the library from its previous location at 395 Main St.

“We expect the total cost of the new library will be $2 million,” he said.

Mullen said Dighton officials have secured $1.14 million for the acquisition of Smith Memorial Hall and to finance the exterior renovations without a Proposition 2 ½ override.

“Town officials to date have been very diligent and successful not to have this project funded within the Dighton tax rate,” he added.

Father’s House Family Church on Somerset Avenue, the previous owner of Smith Memorial Hall, agreed to sell the building to Dighton fo $790,000 in May 2022 under a sales agreement that could only be fulfilled if Town Meeting approved relocating the library to the Hall. The town used American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the purchase.

Additionally, Town Meeting approved a transfer of $150,000 from Dighton’s capital stabilization funds on June 6, 2022, to partially cover the cost of completing renovations to the Hall’s exterior structure.

Dighton also got a $200,000 state grant last year to help finance the renovation — bringing the total funding secured to $1.14 million.

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Mullen said Smith Memorial Hall was built in 1889 by Alfred Smith in memory of his wife, Ann Marie Talbot, who had died in 1884.

“He passed away before the construction of the building was complete,” Mullen said.

Where will the rest of the money come from?

In early February, the Dighton Library Committee and Dighton Library Board of Trustees requested $323,000 from the Dighton Community Preservation Committee to finance interior upgrades to the Hall — including a new heating and air conditioning system and various other upgrades, Mullen said.

“Earlier this month, we also applied to the Massachusetts Cultural Council for a grant of $200,000 to fund the necessary heating-ventilation-air-conditioning improvements,” he added.

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Mullen said the interior upgrades would also include creating a children's section, reconfiguring a bathroom to be family-accessible and installing a ramp for people who have disabilities to access the library’s amenities.

The funding request also seeks finances to install new LED lighting, code-conforming electrical power, new floor finishings, upgraded public restrooms and needed repairs.

Community Preservation Committee Chair Kevin Smith Jr. said committee members are reviewing the funding request, and they plan to inspect Smith Memorial Hall with town officials on Mar 1 at 3 p.m.

“It will be an open meeting that the public can attend,” he said. “We won’t have an agenda, but we will be able to attain public input and listen to any questions that the selectmen or CPC committee has.”

Smith said the committee has received “letters of support” from residents about approving the funding request.

“We don’t have letters of disagreement, but we are taking in all public input for or against the project,” he said.

Mullen said Town Meeting voters would also have to approve the funding request on a date to be determined.

“We are looking at the construction to be completed in late 2024,” he said.

Dighton Public Library, temporarily located at Town Hall

Mullen said the renovation of Smith Memorial Hall forced Dighton Public Library to relocate to Town Hall into two separate sections temporarily.

“The adult portion of our library is operating out of a modular trailer on the Town Hall campus,” he said. “The library’s youth and children’s section is being operated out of a very small Town Hall conference room. I believe it’s been a challenge to operate as a public library.”

Mullen said the eventual completion of the renovations at Smith Memorial Hall would “bring our library operations back under one roof.”

This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Dighton library: Renovation underway at Smith Memorial Hall on Main