News Release 

Web Site: mass.gov/mblc

News Release

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Heath, Dalton & Dudley Receive Construction Awards
Waiting List Moves Up

BOSTON - The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is pleased to announce that it has awarded $5,604,666 in Provisional Awards from the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program to the Dalton Free Public Library, Heath Free Public Library and the Pearle L. Crawford Memorial Library in Dudley from the 2004-2005 Grant Round.

Projects may be either to construct a new facility or an addition/renovation to an existing building that may or may not add space but does involve a significant reorganization of functional space.

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.

Funds sufficient to fund the entire first two grants, as well as a substantial portion of the third grant, have been scheduled in the Capital Budget of the Commonwealth for FY2007 and beyond. The Board has agreed that the municipalities receiving these grants have until July 12, 2007, to achieve local funding of their projects and execute a contract with the Board.

The awards are:

* This is a partial award. Dudley is also now #1 on the Waiting List for an additional $585,421.

With the awarding of these grants, municipalities on the Waiting List moved up and now constitute an additional 31 communities that total $84,701,441. Funding for these projects is pending the passage of a new Bond Authorization. (Note that the Pearle L. Crawford Memorial Library in Dudley has been granted a split award totaling $2,314,574 putting it on both the Grant Award List and the Waiting List.)

Massachusetts Public Library Construction Waiting List as of November 2, 2006

Numbers 1-22 placed on Waiting List by a Board of Library Commissioners' vote, July 7, 2005; Numbers 23-31 by a Board vote on April 6, 2006. *Dudley also received a partial award of $1,729,153 on November 2, 2006. **Branch libraries have lower priority within rounds.

Further information about the Construction Grants can be found at Public Library Construction.

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.

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