ARSL $15K Grant Will Provide Sustainable Air Handling Unit at the Library

For the second year in a row, the Moultonborough Public Library is the recipient of a $15,000 Sustainable and Resilient New England Libraries Grant. Funding  provides opportunities for New England libraries to enhance their sustainability and resiliency efforts. Grant funds are dispersed by the Association for Rural & Small Libraries and made possible thanks to generous funding by the Manton Foundation. Funds received by the Moultonborough Public Library will offset the cost of replacing one of the library’s air handlers with a more modern and energy-efficient unit. 

The replacement of the Library’s air handler unit will be completed by the end of 2025. The current unit uses R-22 refrigerant that is now restricted by the EPA due to its now-known contribution to climate change. The new unit will utilize the more modern R410-A refrigerant, a more environmentally- and financially-sustainable substance. In addition, the new unit will provide reliable heating and cooling to the Library, a location named in the Town of Moultonborough’s Hazard Mitigation Plan as a heating and cooling center for those of vulnerable populations, including children, seniors, and those with chronic illness or disabilities, and others who may be at risk of injury or death due to extreme heat or cold.

With more than 36,000 visits to the library in 2024, an increase in room reservations totaling nearly 1,000 in one year, and a 16% increase in program attendance, the Sustainable and Resilient New England Libraries Grant allows the Moultonborough Public Library to continue to provide its community with a reliable and healthy space for individuals and groups to gather. 
The Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) builds strong communities through professional development and elevating the impact of rural and small libraries. ARSL recognizes the uniqueness of small and rural libraries and is committed to providing an environment that encourages excellence within this community of practice, supporting their goals of service and speaking on behalf of this important constituency. Learn more about the Association for Rural & Small Libraries at arsl.org and the Manton Foundation at mantonfoundation.org. Visit the Moultonborough Public Library at 4 Holland St. and online at moultonboroughlibrary.org.