News Release

On January 4, 2008 Governor Deval Patrick filed H4455 a $2.5 billion bond bill to implement the Administration’s Capital Investment Plan. Included in the five-year bill is significant authorization to assist communities with local infrastructure needs, including $100 million to fund library construction or renovation for the 31 municipalities on the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioner’s Waiting List as of November 3, 2006 .

“We’re dealing with an aging infrastructure of libraries across the state. Nearly half are at least 100 years old and little or nothing has been done to them since they were built,” stated Patience Jackson, MBLC Library Building Consultant.  The list includes libraries from across the Commonwealth from Westhampton and Buckland in the Berkshires, to Holyoke, Gloucester and Mattapan.

“I believe that the construction of these new and modern facilities places the Commonwealth at the forefront of library construction in our nation. Most of these buildings are simply too small to meet the needs of their community in the 21st century, some are not fully accessible to disabled users, many do not have appropriate children’s or youth services areas, and others lack the electrical power and information architecture required to deliver services in our digital age,” stated MBLC Commissioner George T. Comeau who serves as the Construction Liaison to the Board.

Communities that receive construction grants and complete the process are pleased with their new or renovated space. As Chair of Georgetown Peabody Library Trustees, Laura Zalweski stated at the opening of the addition/renovation in November 2007, “Our new library is our community’s living room with something for everyone. We finally have the library our community deserves.” Georgetown is just one of 239 towns to be awarded over $282 million from the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program since it began in 1990.

Our Common Wealth: Building a Future for Our Children and Youth, a recent report by the Massachusetts Special Commission on After School and Out of School Time, called libraries a critical partner in shaping the lives of our young people and recognized the extensive programs that libraries offer. “Adults also turn to libraries, whether it be learning how to use a computer or learning how to read; but aging buildings combined with the continuing increase in demand for library services presents us with a challenge,” stated MBLC Director Robert C. Maier. “The Governor has demonstrated that he understands the essential role libraries serve in the lives of residents and the value that libraries bring to our communities,” he added.

The municipalities on the MBLC Waiting List have been waiting for state grant funds for up to 3 years.

Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program
Waiting List January 18, 2008

Numbers 1-20 placed on Waiting List by Board of Library Commissioners' vote, July 7, 2005; Numbers 21-29 by a Board vote on April 6, 2006.

**Branch libraries have lower priority within rounds.

Further information about the Construction Grants can be found at http://mblc.state.ma.us/grants/construction/.