News Release
November 7, 2002
Director, Communications & Public Information
1-800-952-7403, x208
David.L.Gray@state.ma.us
Construction Grants Awarded to 18 Massachusetts Libraries
BOSTON: The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is pleased to announce that it has awarded 18 Projects for General Construction Grants totaling $36,499,449 to 18 public libraries across the Commonwealth from the 2000-2001 Grant Round. Funding for these projects was authorized by Governor Jane Swift and the Legislature in August in an omnibus bond bill (S2271) that allowed for the expenditure of up to $75 million for public library construction.
A General Project may be either a project to construct a new facility, an addition/renovation to an existing building that may or may not add space but does involve a significant reorganization of functional space, or a joint library project that will involve construction of a facility by two or more municipalities.
Applications were reviewed based on the following evaluative criteria as stated in the regulations (605 CMR 6.08 (6)), application and review sheet: General Overview, Project Information, Needs Assessment, Planning Process, Building Program and Its Relation to Project, Project Design, Financial, Site and Exterior Design, Library Services (Adult, Children, Staff Member and Custodian), and Overall Assessment. These awards take into account the ranking of projects by outside reviewers, the distribution of projects by community size, and a measure of economic hardship based on an equalized valuation (EQV) per capita factor.
The projects are listed in alphabetical order.
|
Municipality |
Award |
Amount |
|
Ashby |
Ashby Free Public Library |
$1,404,117 |
|
Ashland |
Ashland Public Library |
$2,020,277 |
|
Berlin |
Berlin Public Library |
$964,291 |
|
Boylston |
Boylston Public Library |
$1,646,139 |
|
Canton |
Canton Public Library |
$2,585,569 |
|
Dracut |
Moses Greeley Parker Memorial Library |
$2,490,245 |
|
Lakeville |
Lakeville Public Library |
$1,692,489 |
|
Leominster |
Leominster Public Library |
$3,021,441 |
|
Lunenburg |
Ritter Memorial Library |
$1,782,563 |
|
Maynard |
Maynard Public Library |
$2,098,004 |
|
Mendon-Upton |
Upton Town Library, Taft Public Library |
$4,763,010 |
|
Merrimac |
Merrimac Public Library |
$1,673,741 |
|
Norfolk |
Norfolk Public Library |
$2,048,218 |
|
North Adams |
North Adams Public Library |
$1,691,370 |
|
Orange |
Wheeler Memorial Library |
$1,720,653 |
|
Rochester |
Joseph H. Plumb Memorial Library |
$1,724,914 |
|
Rutland |
Rutland Free Public Library |
$200,000 |
|
Watertown |
Watertown Free Public Library |
$2,972,408 |
|
$36,449,449 |
In addition, the Board also approved an updated waiting list for receipt of General Construction Grants totaling $41,431,967 to the following 22 public libraries to be awarded a grant in the order listed as future funding becomes available.
The projects are listed in ranked order.
|
Rank |
Municipality |
Library |
Amount |
|
1 |
Wellesley |
Wellesley Free Library |
$3,182,773 |
|
2 |
New Salem |
New Salem Public Library |
$286,530 |
|
3 |
North Brookfield |
Haston Free Public Library |
$1,257,173 |
|
4 |
Middleton |
Flint Public Library |
$2,390,053 |
|
5 |
Great Barrington |
Mason Public Library |
$1,407,052 |
|
6 |
Amesbury |
Amesbury Public Library |
$2,494,352 |
|
7 |
Needham |
Needham Free Public Library |
$3,043,503 |
|
8 |
Oak Bluffs |
Oak Bluffs Public Library |
$1,590,646 |
|
9 |
Mattapoisett |
Mattapoisett Free Public Library |
$1,575,662 |
|
10 |
Georgetown |
Georgetown Peabody Library |
$1,644,694 |
|
11 |
Northborough |
Northborough Free Library |
$2,171,949 |
|
12 |
Montague |
Montague Public Libraries/Carnegie Library |
$1,810,018 |
|
13 |
Seekonk |
Seekonk Public Library |
$3,031,130 |
|
14 |
Harvard |
Harvard Public Library |
$2,492,232 |
|
15 |
Braintree |
Thayer Public Library |
$200,000 |
|
16 |
Framingham |
Framingham Public Library |
$1,654,493 |
|
17 |
Boxborough |
Albert Sargent Memorial Library |
$1,588,634 |
|
18 |
Revere |
Revere Public Library |
$2,581,232 |
|
19 |
Douglas |
Simon Fairfield Public Library |
$1,778,970 |
|
20 |
Charlton |
Charlton Public Library |
$2,413,314 |
|
21 |
Barnstable |
Marstons Mills Public Library |
$1,733,557 |
|
22 |
Northampton |
Lilly Library |
$1,104,000 |
|
$41,431,967 |
Further information about the Construction Grants can be found on the Board's Web site.
The Board of Library Commissioners (mass.gov/mblc) is the agency of state government with the statutory authority and responsibility to organize, develop, coordinate and improve library services throughout the Commonwealth. The Board advises municipalities and library trustees on the operation and maintenance of public libraries, including construction and renovation. It administers state and federal grant programs for libraries and promotes cooperation among all types of libraries through regional library systems and automated resource sharing. It also works to ensure that all residents of the Commonwealth, regardless of their geographic location, social or economic status, age, level of physical or intellectual ability or cultural background, have access to essential new electronic information technologies and significant electronic databases.