The Library of the Chathams needs $6.5 million from Chatham Borough and Chatham Township to finish an $11.95 million renovation of its century-old building — and residents can weigh in tonight at the Township Committee meeting, 7:30 p.m.

The 1924 building runs on 14 separate heating and cooling systems that have cost nearly $200,000 in repairs since 2020, including more than $56,000 last year alone. Indoor humidity has spiked to 91%, temperatures have swung from 63 to over 81 degrees, and multi-day climate-control outages have put the library's local history collection at real risk. The electrical system, meanwhile, is more than 70 years old.

The renovation would replace all 14 HVAC systems, update the wiring, expand the overcrowded children's room, and add flexible meeting spaces, a business center, a dedicated STEM room, and a climate-controlled space just for the history collection — all within the building's existing footprint.

About 86% of Chatham residents hold a library card, and the building draws more than 620 visits a day. Program attendance has more than quadrupled since 2021, community meetings hosted there have grown nearly sevenfold, and more than 50 local organizations use its meeting spaces regularly.

"For half a century, the library has belonged to both Chathams," said Board of Trustees President Andrew Hollander. "It's where kids find their first books, where neighbors gather, and where our local history is kept safe."

The library has already secured about $5.45 million, including a $2.45 million state grant approved in March, with the rest coming from library funds and reserves. That leaves a $6.5 million gap split between the two towns, though the exact breakdown hasn't been made public yet. For context: the Chatham Library Foundation estimates a comparable brand-new building would cost $25 million to $28 million — more than double the renovation's roughly $10.4 million in construction costs.

The Library Board already awarded an $850,895 contract to HMR Architects in April for construction documents and oversight. Both towns heard the full pitch back in May, with Township Committee members saying they wanted more resident input before deciding — which is exactly what's on tonight's agenda. Chatham Borough Council took up the same question at its meeting Monday, with no vote outcome confirmed yet.

Public comment on the funding question happens tonight, Tuesday, July 14, at 7:30 p.m. A public presentation with HMR Architects follows Aug. 5 at 7 p.m. at the library, 214 Main Street — walk-ins welcome.