News Release
July 7, 2005
Director, Communications & Public Information
1-800-952-7403, x208
David.L.Gray@state.ma.us
$21.5 Million in Construction Grants Awarded
Waiting List Established
BOSTON: The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is pleased to announce that it has awarded seven Projects for General Construction Grants totaling $21,508,811 to seven public libraries across the Commonwealth from the 2004-2005 Grant Round.
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 | Library | Award |
|---|---|---|
| Acushnet | Russell Memorial Library | $1,791,852 |
| Bolton | Bolton Public Library | $2,487,906 |
| Cambridge | Cambridge Public Library | $6,651,647 |
| Milton | Milton Public Library | $3,685,725 |
| Wendell | Wendell Free Library | $926,566 |
| Wilbraham | Wilbraham Public Library | $2,587,500 |
| Wilmington | Wilmington Memorial Library | $3,377,615 |
| Total | $21,508,811 | |
In addition, the Board also approved a waiting list for receipt of General Construction Grants totaling $68,469,665 to the following 25 public libraries to be awarded a grant in the order listed as funding becomes available. (Note that the Cambridge Public Library has been granted a split award totaling $10,698,495 putting it on both the Grant Award List and the Waiting List.)
The projects are listed in ranked order.
| Rank | Municipality | Library | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cambridge | Cambridge Public Library | $4,046,848 |
| 2 | Heath | Heath Free Public Library | $1,184,568 |
| 3 | Dalton | Dalton Free Public Library | $2,690,945 |
| 4 | Dudley | Pearle L. Crawford Memorial Library | $2,314,574 |
| 5 | Mashpee | Mashpee Public Library | $2,551,775 |
| 6 | Auburn | Auburn Public Library | $3,642,454 |
| 7 | Shrewsbury | Shrewsbury Public Library | $3,447,211 |
| 8 | Falmouth | Falmouth Public Library | $2,671,086 |
| 9 | Westhampton | Westhampton Memorial Library | $926,151 |
| 10 | Millis | Millis Public Library | $2,425,712 |
| 11 | Norwell | Norwell Public Library | $2,694,676 |
| 12 | Belchertown | Clapp Memorial Library | $2,910,926 |
| 13 | Belmont | Belmont Memorial Library | $4,629,186 |
| 14 | Holyoke | Holyoke Public Library | $3,797,908 |
| 15 | Buckland | Buckland Public Library | $460,520 |
| 16 | Upton | Upton Town Library | $2,395,993 |
| 17 | Boxford | Boxford Town Library | $2,421,080 |
| 18 | Holbrook | Holbrook Public Library | $1,709,231 |
| 19 | Bourne | Jonathan Bourne Public Library | $2,480,610 |
| 20 | Gloucester | Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Library | $3,956,355 |
| 21 | Edgartown | Edgartown Free Public Library | $3,994,397 |
| 22 | Westwood | Westwood Public Library | $3,216,460 |
| 23 | Woburn | Woburn Public Library | $4,152,806 |
| 24 | Dartmouth | Dartmouth Public Libraries (Branch) | $2,375,919 |
| 25 | Everett | Shute Memorial Library (Branch) | $1,372,274 |
| Total | $68,469,665 | ||
Further information about the Construction Grants can be found on this Web site at http://mblc.state.ma.us/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.