CARRABASSETT VALLEY - - In a 112- 20 overwhelming vote, residents of Carrabassett Valley clearly showed their support for a new library and their appreciation of a large scale fundraising effort in town. In a quick one-hour meeting, Moderator John Dill breezed the residents through 50 plus articles that were approved without question or comment.

When the final articles came about with regard to the proposed library, several got up to show their support for the project. There wasn't anyone who opposed the new $1.5 million state-of-the-art facility. There was one question from a resident before the question was moved to a secret ballot by Selectman Bob Luce.

Andie DeBiase spoke of the history that led them to this point and that there's been talk about permanent space for a new library since she started her job in 1991. "It became clear that building one multi-use facility would be the most economical way to meet the needs of the community," De- Biase explained.

The building will be a full range library, a multi purpose community center with meeting space and the home for Western Maine Center for Children day care and after school program.

"Collaborating with the child care committee has helped secure building grants as well as the land donated from Sugarloaf."

DeBiase explained they formed a New Library Building and Community Center Committee, launched a capitol campaign, hired an architect and construction manager who'll guarantee a fixed price.

"Libraries of the 21st century have been described more like 'community living rooms.'"

She went on to list a broad range of services the building will offer from educational to cultural to recreational.

"From the youngest baby being read to by a parent, to our retired seniors enjoying a class or a game of chess … this really is the first facility to truly offer something for everyone," Debase said to the residents at the Outdoor Center.

Committee co-chairperson Marcia White told the crowd that she's often stated in her profession that "childcare is everyone's business."

"The Board of Directors of Western Maine Center for Children is excited to be a potential partner in this project and we will be ready to provide child care and after school programs as soon as the facility is built."

White went on to mention that often childcare is located in the basement of town halls, in churches or at outgrown school buildings.

"Thinking about the prospect of our community's child care and after school programs sharing a building with a library, centrally located to most of the area's workplace, 100 yards from the Anti-Gravity Complex, a short walk from the Narrow Gauge Pathway, on the shuttle route to the Outdoor Center and Sugarloaf, and only a dozen steps from both the Stratton and Kingfield school bus stops, excitement builds," White explained. "This is what our youngest citizens deserve. The opportunity for intergenerational programming in the community space is another exciting part of the vision," White added before turning it over to committee member Augusta French.

French walked the meeting attendees through the building design and construction process. "Similar to the Outdoor Center, the library wing will have stained red shingles and the tenant wing will have red stained clapboards," French explained. She explained everything from parking to building specification to illuminated signage.

Next, Jean Keith referred to the library calculator, a tool found on the Maine State Web site to figure out an individual's value of services they get from their library in a month. She told the meeting attendees her figure was $575 per month for this library and that was being very conservative, she said. She pointed out that the value of one month's services were more than her share of the tax increase for the entire time of the loan repayment.

Committee member Kim Kearing went over the fundraising, reporting how they have raised $535,000 in the past two years through private donations, grants and fundraising events. She announced to the group their latest grant they received just last Saturday. The group just received $50,000 from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, she said.

"This kind of foundation support is a direct reflection of the quality and importance of this project," Kearing said. "The matching gift we received from the Begin family was also incredibly generous," she added.

Kearing said after the meeting, "the grant writing has been incredibly successful. On average most non-profits can expect to receive, at best, one out of three grants written. Our project has had an incredible return. We have received nine out of 11 grants."

Town manager Dave Cota also spoke about the financial aspects of the project as the last speaker before it was called to vote.

"The New Library Building Committee," White said after the meeting, "and the Library Trustees were extremely pleased with the resounding vote of support for this project."

"One has to feel good about moving forward with a project when it has such overwhelming support from the townspeople," Kearing explained after the meeting.

With the 85-percent vote in favor of a new library and community center, the project is expected to start this spring.

The committee has held six public meetings.

"I think it all went very, very well," Dill said after the meeting. "I think the library committee did a great job selling the project to the town."

Officers were named that evening. Steve Pierce and John Beaupre and were re-elected as selectmen. Pierce and John Clements were re-elected to the Sanitary District. Danielle London was re-elected to the school board. All candidates were unopposed.