Library Chairman Tom Swett (right) signed an agreement of sale on Wednesday with Borough Council President Dan Maffei for the site ofthe proposed new library.
KENNETT SQUARE — After decades of seeking a new home, Kennett Library officials signed a deal Wednesday that could finally lead to the building of a new home for the regional library.
A jubilant Kennett Library Chairman Tom Swett signed an agreement of sale with the borough to purchase a half-acre parcel of borough land known as the Weinstein lot, located in the heart of Historic Kennett Square. The site will become the home for a new regional and community library center.
Swett told local and county leaders at a Wednesday morning signing ceremony that the land purchase fulfills an important promise.
“A year ago, the Library Trustees made a promise to do everything possible to secure a great site in the center of Kennett Square for a new library building. With the Borough’s help, we have succeeded. We kept our promise,” Swett said.
“The Weinstein lot is one block east of our present building and is located right along State Street near the YMCA,” Swett continued. “We are putting up a sign shortly so everyone will know exactly where the new library will be in a few years. We are thankful to the Borough Council of Kennett Square for making the property available and for giving us a very fair price.”
Library Trustee Brenda Mercomes, who emceed the signing ceremony, was pleased by the unanimous support of the Borough Council for the sale of the Weinstein property to the Library.
“The Kennett Library is extremely important to the Borough of Kennett Square and this entire region,” Mercomes continued. The Library serves every part of our community and brings over a hundred thousand people into the Borough each year. As a result,” Mercomes said, “the Library enjoys strong support from Borough Council and the business community. It’s not difficult to see that a newer, bigger and more accessible library will quickly become a community centerpiece for the Borough and for all those who visit.”
Scudder Stevens, Chairman of the Kennett Township Board of Supervisors, spoke of his township’s continuing commitment to the Library and the upcoming capital campaign. Stevens encouraged each of the other seven municipalities served by the Kennett Library “to make a generous financial commitment to insure the new Library becomes a reality.”
