Question:
What is the New Snow Library Feasibility Task Force?
Answer:
First, some background. Snow Library is the Town of Orleans most visited municipal building and plays many vital community roles as a meeting place, arts venue, cultural activities hub, study hall, historical archive, and diversified library. It was built on its current site in 1954, expanded in 1977 and again in 1992.
Significant planning work by Snow Library officials since 2018 has revealed that the current building does not meet the needs of the community and is at the end of its useful life and requires extensive repairs and upgrades. It does not meet multiple State building codes such as accessibility, fire safety, and energy efficiency. The building does not have sufficient space to meet the programmatic needs of the department and community.
The Task Force was formed by the Orleans Select Board and Snow Library Trustees in September after a study was authorized at Orleans Annual Town Meeting in May 2023. The Task Force will focus on determining if the current site is suitable for a new, larger facility based on programmatic work recently performed by the Snow Library Trustees, and also determine if another suitable site is available in town
Question:
How can I learn more about the Task Force’s efforts, attend a meeting, or provide input?
Answer:
The Task Force has their own page on the Town of Orleans web site. Click here (https://www.town.orleans.ma.us/1449/Snow-Library-Feasibility-Task-Force) to be redirected to this site where you can see the names of the Task Force and their charge, their meeting agendas, meeting videos, and other important documents.
Please let us know if you would like to submit any comments regarding this project by sending an email to (use the address we created for feedback). Thank you so much for supporting your Snow Library!
