A great library deserves a great garden! Great programs in New Castle Public Library's rear 'Children's Garden' have drawn hundreds of visitors in recent years. Dominated by a large flower bed, the garden is really beautiful when it is in bloom...
Unfortunately, ours has some problems. The layout is over a decade old and requires upkeep that often falls on already-busy librarians. It also offers very little usable space, thanks to that flower bed and the drainage area it obscures. Even less of the space is accessible for patrons with disabilities. (See below for photos.)
A Plan to Enhance the Garden for Decades to Come
The Friends want to construct a large, accessible, durable patio in place of the drainage area, then establish new garden beds for native flowers and use in outdoor programs. As designed, the patio will will vastly increase the comfort and capacity of the garden. It will make the space accessible to all and open up new possibilities for programs and events bringing music, movies, arts & crafts, and more, to audiences of all ages.
Artist's impression of what the proposed patio would look like.
The amazing staff of New Castle Public Library are constantly innovating with their programs and services. We want to support them by offering an outdoor canvas befitting their creativity and library patrons' needs. _________________________________________________________________________________
An Investment in the Future of Our Library Community
On top of an initial $10K saved up, the Friends Board has committed half of all future book sale revenue to this project. (Some of that has already been spent obtaining designs.) We are seeking grants and pursuing every chance we get to raise funds for this, even as we continue to meet our regular commitments to support the library.
Breaking ground in 2025 will not be possible with the revenue frombook sales alone!We hope that our community will recognize the vital services and community programs that New Castle Public Library provides, and help us to reach this ambitious goal.
You can help transform our library garden! Help us remake a space that is currently quite limited into a welcoming spot for our community to gather for years to come.
Please use the Donate button above to make a difference for our library now. You can also help by spreading the word about this campaign on social media, and there are links for that above too!
We are so grateful for the years of enjoyment the garden's current composition has brought to users of the library and members of the community. However, it does not leave a lot of open space for holding events of any size, and tends to get fairly shaggy without continuous upkeep...
The garden now, as viewed from the path to the library's back Children's Area door (left), and from above, at a 2nd floor window.
The design we have decided to move forward with, after a year of back-and-forth and listening to the ideas brought forward by members and our community, was created by Breckstone Architecture. Specifically, it is the brainchild of project architect George Ludewig.
The main patio would have a smooth but non-slip aggregate concrete finish and add 285 square feet of usable, accessible space to the garden. Three permanent benches, curved to accent the library's huge bay window, would be made of brick, capped with bluestone, and offer built-in seating for over a dozen kids (or fewer adults).
As many of the native flowers currently occupying the garden as possible will be preserved by the Friends and replanted in new beds around the permiter of the space. If this campaign meets or exceeds our goals, we also hope to add several new creative and interactive elements to this "Children's Garden."
The current function of the drainage area over which the patio would be built, will be replaced by a new drain to be added next to it.
The design plans developed by Mr. Ludewig received approval from the Historic Area Commission in November, 2024. The project has its building permit... now it just needs support!
This rendering of the project design was donated to the New Castle Library Friends by Breckstone Architecture.
For patrons and local businesses and organizations who wish to support this project with a major donation of $500 or more, we will have a limited number of plaques available to show appreciation for and commemorate your generosity, or to honor or memorialize a loved one.
If you or someone you know would be interested in offering such a major gift, please contact the Friends by email before donating.
About New Castle Library Friends
Mission: Supporting the collections, programming and great staff of New Castle Public Library in Historic New Castle, Delaware.
We enthusiastically support the mission of New Castle Public Library however we can. Recently, this has included contributing to... • The new Board Games Library • The Walk-In Collection • Promotion of the library and its great events and programs • Special purchases such as A/V equipment and other tech • Providing free menstrual products in the family restroom • Maintaining and improving the library’s courtyard and garden
As an all-volunteer organization, NCLF puts 100% of funds we raise toward our support of the library. We also raise funds by holding Book Sales and raffles throughout the year at some of Historic New Castle's best-loved events, including Separation Day and Art on the Green!
