Senator Eldridge Secures $300,000 in Senate FY23 Budget to support new Marlborough Library
State funds will provide furniture, technology, and equipment to library
Hudson, MA – State Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton) secured a $300,000 earmark for the new Marlborough Library that is currently under construction. The construction on the new Marlborough Public Library began in September 2021. Last week, the Massachusetts State Senate passed a $49.78 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23). The newly constructed and renovated library will be ADA compliant, have a certified sustainable design, and a large auditorium.
With unanimous support, the budget makes significant, critical and targeted investments in the areas of education, healthcare, housing and community support to meet the on-the-ground challenges brought on by the global pandemic and ongoing financial uncertainty.
The construction on the Marlborough Public Library began in September 2021. The 100+ year old original building is being renovated and a new addition added to create a state-of-the-art facility that will be ADA compliant, have a certified sustainable design, and a large auditorium.
“I am proud that the city of Marlborough, in partnership with Mass Board of Library Commissioners, moved forward in 2021 to begin construction of a new public library in Marlborough,” said Senator Eldridge (D-Acton). “I’m very happy to pass this $300,000 budget amendment to help support the library having the necessary equipment, furniture and technology to be accessible to all Marlborough residents.”
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners provided a substantial grant towards the library construction. The Marlborough Public Library Foundation – a non-profit organization founded over twenty years ago – has been a strong supporter of the project. The Foundation has set a goal of raising $2 million to pay for furniture, equipment ,technology and other items not covered by the MBLC grant for the new library. The funds in this earmark are directed to the Foundation.
“We express gratitude to our donors including the Commonwealth for their continued support with the library expansion project. We are especially grateful to Senator Eldridge for securing these much-needed funds at a critical time in the Foundation’s fundraising efforts. Our combined efforts will bring prosperity to the city’s communities with free services, enriching educational opportunities, and the capital necessities that will be vital to supporting these initiatives for years to come.” stated William Keyles, the President of the Marlborough Library Foundation.
The Senate’s FY23 Budget is available on the Massachusetts legislature’s website, by clicking here. Now that the Senate and Massachusetts House of Representatives have passed their respective budget proposals, both branches will now work together, form a conference committee and reconcile differences.
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