There have been plenty of things that Sharon Saye, the head of the Bridgeport Public Library, has witnessed in her 42 years with the city. In four decades, she’s witnessed the move of the library from the Benedum Civic Center to Johnson Avenue, the emerging trend in technology and watched the services offered by her facility grow by leaps and bounds.

 

One thing, however, she was hoping to witness nearly two decades ago. And on October of this year, she’s going to be there at the library when it happens.

 

It was in 1995 that municipal bonds were issued to acquire the former insurance building along Johnson Avenue that today is the home of the Bridgeport Public Library. The figure for acquisition was roughly $1.3 million and in October of this year, Saye and other city officials said the debt on the building will be paid in full

 

“It’s been determined that there’s enough to pay it off,” said Bridgeport Finance Director Monica Musgrave.

 

Saye said that has been music to her ears, the ears of the Library Board of Directors and she hopes it will be music to the ears of the residents of Bridgeport and beyond.

 

“When we realized there was enough money to go ahead and pay it off in October, the board was quite euphoric,” said Saye. “The money in the trust account was higher than anticipated.”

 

Now, just short of two decades later, Bridgeport’s Public Library is about to owned free and clear. And they have residents, businesses and other caring members of the Bridgeport and reading community to thank for it. Unlike many other facilities city wide, the library was acquired primarily through donations from the public.

 

While Bridgeport was at the time fiscally sound, it was not rife with massive development as it is today that provides major one time business and occupation taxes to do projects such as this. – Saye said it wasn’t the city that ponied up the money to acquire the building.

 

“That was a lot of money to consider and the city wasn’t gung ho at the time because it was such a big building in comparison to where we were,” said Saye. “What ended up happening was the city, and by city in this case it’s the community, decided to raise the money and come together. I know firsthand the power the public has when it wants something and I still find it frustrating that people still discount the power of the public to get something done.”

 

A fundraising committee was set up during the period of 1993-94 – more than a year before the bonds were purchased – to gauge interest and see if the funds could be raised. And they found out that the money could be raised, but Saye said the money came in a manner they didn’t anticipate.

 

“When you did giant fundraising projects at that time, we were told that most of your donors would come from large donations and state and federal grants, but most of the money came from elsewhere,” said Saye. “About two-thirds of the money needed came from individual donors. We asked people to donate $1,000 over a five-year period and that’s what happened. The bulk of all of that money came in small donations.”

 

The investment has proven to be a good one by the community. Saye said when she arrived at the library on the top floor of the Civic Center there were 25,000 books available to the public. When the 1990s rolled around there were 65,000 books in the same space.

 

“Today we have 105,000 books, and more than 30,000 books on CDs and on tape,” said Saye. “We have so many other events that take place and serves that we offer that just would never have been possible at the Civic Center.”

 

Saye said the building being available worked out perfect. The owner was interested in selling years ago, but wanted to do it through municipal bonds.

 

“That was perfect for us because only the city could do a deal with municipal bonds,” said Saye. “The set up was to pay interest over the 20 years and have a balloon payment at the end. The end is at hand.”

 

Saye said that perhaps the best thing that came out of the entire process is that she believes the community feels as if they have ownership of the building. She said even though it’s now owned by the City of Bridgeport, it belongs to the community and she thinks that’s why the new location has been such a success.

 

“The library is extremely connected to the city and its people. The city may own it, but the residents bought it. I can’t tell you how appreciative I am for that that and the fact the community is protective of this building in a kind of strange, but good way that never ceases to amaze me,” said Saye. “Knowing the community stepped up and then to see this building packed and serving the same community is wonderful. We think, and we hope the community does too, that we’ve handled their investment here the best that we could and will continue to do so.”

 

So does Saye miss the old building?

 

“We couldn’t do what we’re doing now there. The Civic Center was wonderful, but we don’t miss it except for one thing. We miss the Dairy Queen next door. That’s our only gripe,” Saye said with a laugh.

 

Saye also gave kudos to current and past members of the Bridgeport Library Board. She also had praise for the fundraising committee, many of who have passed away. That group is pictured in the main hallway of the library. Members of the 1993-1994 fundraising committee were, according to the photo, Mrs. Forrest G. Clark; John D. Lough; Joe Timms; Annabel Timms; Marianne Creighton;  James B. Gehr; Edgar A. Hess; Ben H. Cooksey, Jr.; Dr. Harry M. Murray, Jr.; Julia Compton; Jim Compton; Lynn W. Barlow; Jennifer Compton Corton; Robert D. Hess, M.D.; Barbara Highland; Cecil Highland; and Dorothea Timms. 

 

Editor's Note: Top photo is of Library Director Sharon Saye, while the 1993-94 fundraising committee is pictured below.