News Release
April 6, 2006
Director, Communications & Public Information
1-800-952-7403, x208
David.L.Gray@state.ma.us
Construction Waiting List Expanded
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is pleased to announce that it has completed the 2004-2006 Public Library Construction Grant Round and added nine more projects to its Waiting List. Projects added, in alphabetical order, were: Beals Memorial Library in Winchendon for $2,878,734; Boston Public Library Mattapan Branch for $4,541,658; Boyden Library in Foxborough for $3,010,092; Dighton Public Library for $2,036,139; Granby Free Public Library for $859,550; Hull Public Library for $2,443,200; Richards Memorial Library in North Attleborough for $4,231,620; Walpole Public Library for $3,387,986, and the Young Men's Library Association in Ware for $2,494,311.
Following the Board's establishment of the current Waiting List in July 2005, these projects were granted the opportunity to revise their applications and reapply by January 2006, which they did. After consideration and discussion by review panels, final review for eligibility and eligible project costs, and application of an economic hardship factor, the nine projects above were approved.
These projects include five new buildings and four additions/renovations that include a significant reorganization of functional space. They 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.
In a separate vote, the City of Cambridge also received the remainder of its Construction Grant, and has moved off the Waiting List. The revised Waiting List is as follows in ranked order.
Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program Waiting List as of April 6, 2006
| Rank | Municipality | Library | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heath | Heath Public Library | $1,184,568 |
| 2 | Dalton | Dalton Free Public Library | $2,690,945 |
| 3 | Dudley | Pearle L. Crawford Memorial Library | $2,314,574 |
| 4 | Mashpee | Mashpee Public Library | $2,551,775 |
| 5 | Auburn | Auburn Public Library | $3,642,454 |
| 6 | Shrewsbury | Shrewsbury Free Public Library | $3,447,211 |
| 7 | Falmouth | Falmouth Public Library | $2,671,086 |
| 8 | Westhampton | Westhampton Public Library | $926,151 |
| 9 | Millis | Millis Public Library | $2,425,712 |
| 10 | Norwell | Norwell Public Library | $2,694,676 |
| 11 | Belchertown | Clapp Memorial Library | $2,910,926 |
| 12 | Belmont | Belmont Public Library | $4,629,186 |
| 13 | Holyoke | Holyoke Public Library | $3,797,908 |
| 14 | Buckland | Buckland Public Library | $460,520 |
| 15 | Upton | Upton Town Library | $2,395,993 |
| 16 | Boxford | Boxford Town Library | $2,421,080 |
| 17 | Holbrook | Holbrook Public Library | $1,709,231 |
| 18 | Bourne | Jonathan Bourne Public Library | $2,480,610 |
| 19 | Gloucester | Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Library | $3,956,355 |
| 20 | Edgartown | Edgartown Free Public Library | $3,994,397 |
| 21 | Westwood | Westwood Public Library | $3,216,460 |
| 22 | Woburn | Woburn Public Library | $4,152,806 |
| 23 | Dartmouth* | Dartmouth Public Libraries (Branch) | $2,375,919 |
| 24 | Everett* | Shute Memorial Library (Branch) | $1,372,274 |
| 25 | Dighton | Dighton Public Library | $2,036,139 |
| 26 | Hull | Hull Public Library | $2,443,200 |
| 27 | Ware | Young Men's Library Association | $2,494,311 |
| 28 | Walpole | Walpole Public Library | $3,387,986 |
| 29 | Winchendon | Beals Memorial Library | $2,878,734 |
| 30 | North Attleborough | Richards Memorial Library | $4,231,620 |
| 31 | Granby | Granby Free Public Library | $ 859,550 |
| 32 | Foxborough | Boyden Library | $3,010,092 |
| 33 | Boston - Mattapan* | Boston Public Library - Mattapan (Branch) | $4,541,658 |
| Total | $90,306,107 |
*Branch libraries have lower priority within rounds.
Further information about the Construction Grants can be found at www.mass.gov/mblc/grants/construction/index.php.
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.