Outdoor expansion could come to Elizabeth Taber Library
Macy Davis, the children's librarian at the Elizabeth Tabor Library, presented the grant proposal at the Tuesday, Dec. 16 Select Board meeting. Photos by Grace Roche
From left: Selectmen John Hoagland, Randy Parker and Norman Hills at the Dec. 16 meeting.
Macy Davis, the children's librarian at the Elizabeth Tabor Library, presented the grant proposal at the Tuesday, Dec. 16 Select Board meeting. Photos by Grace Roche
From left: Selectmen John Hoagland, Randy Parker and Norman Hills at the Dec. 16 meeting.
MARION — A Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game grant could bring a new outdoor learning area to the Elizabeth Taber Library.
Children’s librarian Macy Davis presented the library’s grant proposal to the Select Board at its Tuesday, Dec. 16 meeting.
The library plans to request about $35,000 in grant funds to support the department’s biodiversity goals. It would use these funds to transform a section of lawn between the library and Town Hall buildings into an outdoor classroom.
The project plans include the installation of groundcover to allow wheelchair access to the space, permanent musical instruments and raised gardening beds. It also includes three wood structures — a storage shed, a workspace for planting and gardening, and a 3-inch raised stage.
No irrigation or electrical work would be required, and the grant will include a request to hire a landscaping architect to design the final space. Davis said the project would not require any permanent changes to the property except for the installation of powder-coated outdoor instruments.
She said the library has many educational groups visit the building for presentations and lectures, and the new outdoor space would be useful for hosting them.
“Having an outdoor classroom space to host their programs in when the library brings them in would really increase the hands-on engagement for children at the library,” Davis said.
She added the space would be open even when the library is closed, and signage around the area would educate visitors about biodiversity when there is no library staff available.
The grant deadline is Friday, Dec. 26 and if the plan receives funding it would be disbursed in February.
Davis said the library would complete their proposed plan by June if they receive the amount they plan to request. She said if the project is funded, the library would return to the Select Board in March to finalize their plans.
Over 2,000 patrons have attended educational programs at the library in the past six months, Davis said, which is double the amount of total visitors in 2024.
She said the plan would increase biodiversity around the library, add space for additional programming and establish a learning environment not found elsewhere in the town.
“This aligns with the library's long term plan, which has goals of evaluating our space use, including use of outdoor space, as well as connecting with community partners,” Davis said.
