Fundraising Underway To Make South End Library Accessible To All

The Friends of the South End Library launched a large-scale fundraising campaign last week aimed at raising money to install handicapped accessible doors at the Tremont Street library.

“The first priority of this board is the handicapped accessible door,” said FOSEL President Glyn Polson at the group’s annual meeting Tuesday night. “That’s what we want to do first and foremost with the money we raise.”

The entrance to the South End Branch is the only non-accessible feature of the building, which has elevator access to the second floor and a ground floor level with the sidewalk outside. Currently, wheelchair users can enter the building with assistance - but the doors, while wide enough for a wheelchair to pass, do not open automatically.

“One of the common themes that we talk about a lot in our meetings…is that [the library] is free for all,” said FOSEL Director Courtney Fitzgerald. “But our library here is not accessible to all.”

To alter both the interior and exterior doors at the library’s main entrance would cost about $15,000, Fitzgerald said. The new doors would be ADA compliant, and open with a push button.

To raise the necessary funds, a fundraising mailing has been sent to residents in the area. Over $1,000 has already been pledged to the project. To donate via PayPal, or contact a FOSEL member for more information, click here.