News Release
DATE: August 04, 2008
Bond Bill Passed by House and Senate
The MBLC awaits Governor’s signature to vote on provisional grants.
On July 31, 2008 the House and Senate passed the omnibus bond bill that authorizes a total of $137,500,000 for public library construction. The communities on the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners’ Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP) Wait List are scheduled to receive $100,000,000 while $37,500,000 is slated for ongoing renovations at the Boston Public Library.
Governor Deval Patrick now has ten days to review, sign, or line item veto the bill.
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners had the Governor’s timetable in mind when the regular Board meeting date was changed from August 7 to August 14. Funding to the communities on MPLCP Wait List is a priority for the Board. If the Governor signs the bill, this new meeting date will allow the Board to take immediate action and vote on provisional grant awards to municipalities for approved public library projects.
Below are the communities on the MPLCP Wait List. Since it was first funded in FY1990, the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program has awarded general construction grants to cities and towns for 239 addition/renovation or new library projects. These new and renovated libraries are vibrant community centers offering engaging programs for children and adults, making computers available to all, and circulating more books, CDs, DVDs and other materials than ever before.
The last time that the MPLCP received funding was in 2002 when Acting Governor Jane Swift signed an omnibus bond bill that authorized the expenditure of $75 million for public library construction projects.
Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program Waiting List
| Rank | Municipality | Library | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auburn | Auburn Public Library | $4,188,822 |
| 2 | Shrewsbury | Shrewsbury Free Public Library | $3,964,293 |
| 3 | Falmouth | Falmouth Public Library | $3,071,749 |
| 4 | Westhampton | Westhampton Memorial Library | $1,065,074 |
| 5 | Millis | Millis Public Library | $2,789,569 |
| 6 | Norwell | Norwell Public Library | $3,098,877 |
| 7 | Belchertown | Clapp Memorial Library | $3,347,565 |
| 8 | Belmont | Belmont Memorial Library | $5,323,564 |
| 9 | Holyoke | Holyoke Public Library | $4,367,594 |
| 10 | Buckland | Buckland Public Library | $529,598 |
| 11 | Upton | Upton Town Library | $2,755,392 |
| 12 | Boxford | Boxford Town Library | $2,784,242 |
| 13 | Holbrook | Holbrook Public Library | $1,965,616 |
| 14 | Bourne | Jonathan Bourne Public Library | $2,852,702 |
| 15 | Gloucester | Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Library | $4,549,808 |
| 16 | Edgartown | Edgartown Free Public Library | $4,593,557 |
| 17 | Westwood | Westwood Public Library | $3,698,929 |
| 18 | Woburn | Woburn Public Library | $4,775,727 |
| 19 | Dartmouth** | Dartmouth Public Libraries (Branch) | $2,732,307 |
| 20 | Everett** | Shute Memorial Library (Branch) | $1,578,115 |
| 21 | Dighton | Dighton Public Library | $2,341,560 |
| 22 | Hull | Hull Public Library | $2,809,680 |
| 23 | Ware | Young Men's Library Association | $2,868,458 |
| 24 | Walpole | Walpole Public Library | $3,896,184 |
| 25 | Winchendon | Beals Memorial Library | $3,310,544 |
| 26 | North Attleborough | Richards Memorial Library | $4,866,363 |
| 27 | Granby | Granby Free Public Library | $988,483 |
| 28 | Foxborough | Boyden Library | $3,461,606 |
| 29 | Boston--Mattapan** | Boston Public Library-Mattapan (Branch) | $5,222,907 |
| Inflation factor of 15% for partial award to Dudley | $87,813 | ||
| Inflation factor of 15% for award to Mashpee | $382,766 | ||
| Total | $94,269,464 | ||
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.
