Museum director outlines three‑year 'possibilities' phase for expansion and unveils new website and development hire

The New London Public Museum director updated the council on a multi‑year planning effort for museum expansion, including a new website, grants to fund a part‑time director of development, a public-engagement strategy called the "Wait What" booth, and a proposed three‑year "possibilities" phase to test layouts, programs and operations before finalizing a master plan. The Museum Expansion Committee established working groups for public relations, programs and building; the director said the working groups will test ideas in the existing space, inventory and rehouse collections to improve preservation and access, and experiment with exhibits and education programming. The museum unveiled a new website created with Friends of the New London Public Museum; funding for the part‑time director of development was provided by grants from the Maryland Taylor Wolf Cheese Fund and the Community Vision Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region plus donations. The director introduced Lahoma, the new director of development, who will work on fundraising and a discovery tour of the community. The building working group noted a failed bid solicitation for a storm‑window project and plans to reissue a reworked bid packet in September for work expected in 2026 if bids are received; otherwise the project may be deferred. The committee estimates the possibilities phase will last about three years; the first six months will evaluate two options for sequencing interior work and provide a cost and efficiency analysis before recommending construction documents. The museum director requested volunteers for hands‑on tasks, said a fast‑facts sheet was updated to include an approximate collection size, and asked council members to help publicize outreach events and booth appearances scheduled for August through the fall. The committee did not present a final cost estimate for the entire expansion at this meeting; the director said a budget would be developed and presented at a future update.