For Immediate Release
Press Contact: Lisa Downing, Forbes Library, director@forbeslibrary.org or 413-587-1016
A long-awaited project to improve the ventilation system and accessibility of Forbes Library’s seven bathrooms will begin on Monday, September 23. The work is anticipated to be completed within three months and is being done by Keiter Corporation. While the library is anticipating disruption during the construction, bathrooms will be closed in phases.
Automatic door openers to bathroom doors will be installed to improve access for people with disabilities. A threshold lip that prevents wheelchairs and walkers from easily entering the bathrooms will be removed. The new bathroom ventilation system will improve the functionality and safety of the bathrooms. Additionally, new water fountains with water bottle filling stations will be installed on two floors. “This project will make the library more accessible, more convenient, and more comfortable to use. It is something we have needed for a long time and we are very grateful to the City of Northampton and everyone else who worked to make this project a reality,” said Lisa Downing, Library Director.
Funding for this project is coming from the city’s Capital Improvement budget, federal Community Block Grant Funds, Community Preservation Act funds, the Friends of Forbes Library, and individual donors. The budget for this project is $372,418.90.