Most of the Johnson Public Library’s 15,000-book collection sits in boxes at the library’s temporary location on Thursday, June 6. Photo by Shaun Robinson/VTDiggerFourteen public libraries across the state — many of them in rural communities — will benefit from $15.9 million in grants that will help upgrade their facilities and boost internet access.The grants, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, aim to revitalize libraries in desperate need of renovation.Among the recipients is Johnson Public Library, located in a flood zone, which will receive one of the largest grants — totaling nearly $1.7 million — to rebuild and relocate. The library remains closed due to extensive flood damage.“Our library has regular floods, which closes the library all the time, with debris flooding into the basement,” said Thomas Galinat, Johnson’s town administrator. He said the building’s foundation is failing, forcing the library to move into a temporary facility.“We can’t keep rebuilding, it’s time to relocate,” said Galinat. Galinat approached the selectboard two weeks before the grant deadline with a proposal to restore the damaged building and relocate the library to a safer area.“I was laughed at,” he said. “They said ‘Jacking up the building, sure, go for it Tom, but don’t let it take away from your other duties.’”In two weeks, a team reviewed the application and came up with a plan. Now, with the $1,680,888.68 they will receive, the library is set to relocate its brick building out of the flood zone to a safer location on Legion Field.“I would be surprised (if) we don’t spend it all, the project is so complicated, it’s a 40-by-40 building of brick that needs to be moved,” Galinat said.The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grants mark the first competitive funding initiative from the Vermont Department of Libraries, following a needs assessment conducted in 2023. The assessment revealed an urgent demand for maintenance, repairs and modernization in public library buildings, some of which date back a century, said State Librarian Catherine Delneo.The funding awarded to each of the 14 libraries varies widely, ranging from less than $200,000 to Johnson’s nearly $1.7 million. Jeanne Engel, director of the Johnson Public Library, stands in the library’s temporary location on Thursday, June 6. The library’s existing building suffered heavy damage in last summer’s flooding and has yet to be fully reconstructed. Photo by Shaun Robinson/VTDiggerBennington Free Library is set to receive $1.5 million to replace outdated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.“One of our boilers is 45 years old and another is 35 years old,” said Wendy Sharkey, the library’s director.The modernization efforts are designed to create a safer and more welcoming environment for all community members, Sharkey said. She hopes the upgrades will entice patrons who were hesitant to visit the library during the pandemic due to concerns over air quality. “It’s an old building, so we don’t have much air transfer,” she said. According to Delneo, the primary focus of the grant initiative is expanding internet access.“Since the pandemic, so much of what we do — visiting the doctor, attending school and working remotely — has moved online,” she explained. “These libraries serve as vital centers for people to accomplish their daily tasks.”In Bennington, the library plays a crucial role in providing internet access to the community, particularly in an area where many residents lack reliable connectivity, said Sharkey.“We live in a poor and aging community and not everyone has the internet,” she said. “We are the source for the internet.”Clean waterThe ARPA grants also aim to improve water quality at local libraries. All libraries in the state closed during the pandemic, but according to Delneo, some facilities were forced to close for longer periods of time because they couldn’t meet reopening requirements, including in some cases due to a lack of clean water or adequate sanitation facilities. “Imagine trying to work during the pandemic and they couldn’t even wash their hands at work,” said Delneo.The funding was awarded through a competitive grant process open to all public libraries in Vermont, benefiting institutions in 11 counties, from small villages to larger towns. “We did let the libraries know in advance that we really wanted to spread the funds across the state,” said Delneo. “That was really fruitful and so you can see that libraries have grown into real community centers.”Johnson’s public library is scheduled to begin construction by spring, according to Galinat, the town administrator. The town is considering organizing a parade to celebrate the library’s move, featuring the building movers leading the way as the library is transported to its new site.“This needs to be celebrated with a positive light,” Galinat said. “It’s a first step.”The full list of grant recipients include:—  Alice M. Ward Memorial Library, Canaan, $900,000 for interior renovations for ADA compliance and improved patron centered useability; new HVAC system and new windows;—  Arvin A. Brown Public Library, Richford, $174,502 for renovations to increase useable library space, new HVAC system, electrical system updates, new windows, and interior renovations for ADA compliance;— Bennington Free Library, Bennington, $1.5 million for building repairs, including new windows and insulation and a new HVAC system with electrical system updates;— Brandon Free Public Library Inc., Brandon, $1,406,936 for the installation of a four-story elevator, including renovations and improvements for ADA compliance and to repair or replace windows for energy efficiency;— Brooks Memorial Library, Brattleboro, $1,472,501 for asbestos abatement and building envelope repairs with interior and exterior renovations for ADA compliance; — Grand Isle Free Library, Grand Isle, $1,500,000 for new library building construction;— Groton Free Public Library, Groton, $522,043 for building expansion and repairs, including renovations for ADA compliance and a new HVAC system;— Jeudevine Memorial Library, Hardwick, $725,000 for library expansion, including a two-story addition, four ADA compliant bathrooms, HVAC plumbing and electrical updates;— Johnson Public Library, Johnson, $1,500,000 for relocating the building away from the flood zone and new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing system, and  constructing an addition to the existing building. Renovations to egresses for ADA compliance;— Lawrence Memorial Library, Bristol, $483,000 for a new HVAC system, building envelope repairs for structural integrity and electrical and mechanical system updates;— Leach Public Library, Irasburg, $1,082,750 for library expansion, including a two-story addition, new elevator, ADA compliant bathroom, and a new HVAC system;— Middletown Springs Public Library, Middletown Springs, $1,293,384 for renovating and upgrading the library building infrastructure at a new library site;— Salisbury Free Public Library, Salisbury, $978,807 for repairing or replacing the HVAC system, a new plumbing system, potable water and interior and exterior renovations for ADA compliance;— Wilder Memorial Library, Weston, $650,000 for a building expansion and repairs, new HVAC and plumbing systems, electrical system updates, and a new ADA-compliant bathroom.Read the story on VTDigger here: 14 Vermont libraries receive grants for upgrades and enhanced internet access.