Senator Eldridge, Representative Gregoire, and Representative Kane Announce a $9.4 Million State-funded Grant to Westborough Public Library
Funds for library construction will promote equal access to information, technology, resources, and programming
Westborough, MA – Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton), Representative Danielle Gregoire (D-Marlborough), and Representative Hannah Kane (R-Shrewsbury) are pleased to announce a $9,403,090 grant to Westborough Public Library. Part of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC), the state-funded Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP) provides critical funding to local libraries. The funds promote equal access to information, technology, resources, and programming.
The Westborough Public Library building was constructed in 1908 and expanded in 1980; outdated workflows, infrastructure, and finishes call for expansion and renovation, according to the Library Building Program, a document published by the library. The building project anticipates new and future trends in library services, prepares for demographic shifts among age groups in Westborough, and proposes a renovation that allows for flexibility in the use of space well into the future.
The proposed project calls for the demolition of the 1980 addition and a small portion of the rear of the 1908 building. The new design adds 3 stories of space, with a larger teen room, study rooms, and a children’s department. The design preserves the historic character of the building, recognizing the significant artifact in the West Main Street Historic District.
“My congratulations to the Westborough Public Library for securing this $9.5 million grant from the state to renovate and expand the public library. This is truly a great construction project that will benefit the town for decades to come. The library has a long history, and a refreshed library will better serve Westborough into the future,” said State Senator Jamie Eldridge. “I am grateful to the MBLC for administering the construction grant and their continued support for the Commonwealth’s libraries.”
“I am so pleased that the Westborough Public Library has been awarded a $9.4 million grant by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners,” said State Representative Hannah Kane (R-Shrewsbury). “This funding will be critical in advancing the effort to renovate and expand the highly visited library, ensuring access to resources and information for all community members.”
“Our local libraries are such an incredible asset for our communities,” said State Representative Danielle Gregoire (D-Marlborough). “I am grateful for the allocation of these funds and am hopeful that the updates and renovations will allow the Westborough Public Library to continue to serve all of our residents, young, old, and everyone in between, for years to come.”
During the next six months, the library will need to gain local approval for the project. The total project cost was estimated in 2016 to be $24 million, with about $9.4 million reimbursable under the state grant. A new cost estimate is expected by late summer 2022. Currently, the library plans to finish pre-construction work, including contracts, documents, bidding, and awards by February 2024. The project is expected to complete by August 2025, according to a draft schedule.
Westborough Public Library’s grant this year is part of a $50 million grant package by the MBLC this year. First funded by a state bond authorization in 1987, the construction grant program dispenses funding to eligible municipalities and helps communities build, renovate, and expand their public libraries. The program also offers Green Library Incentives, which offset the cost of incorporating environmentally friendly and energy-efficient systems in library building projects.
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