News Release
DATE: June 01, 2010
MBLC Announces 2010-2011 Library Construction Grant Round
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is pleased to announce the 2010-2011 application grant round of the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP). The Board's authorization of the new grant round at its May 2010 Board meeting comes just months after the Board approved significant revisions to MPLCP's regulations which included an increase in the average grant award, an additional Need Factor, and additional support for sustainable construction. Please see Regulations (605 CMR 6.00) (pdf) and "New Construction Regulations Increase Funding" for further details. Funding for library construction was authorized by Governor Deval Patrick and the Legislature in the General Governmental Bonds Bill in 2008.
"Library usage has steadily increased every year for the past ten years. Renovating, expanding, and building public libraries ensures that all the Commonwealth's residents can access what they need today as well as into the future," said George Comeau, MBLC Chair. "Support from the Governor and Legislature has been vital in enabling the Board to continue the construction program which over the past twenty years has positively impacted over 200 communities across the state," he added.
The grant round is open to communities with new construction projects, additions, renovation or conversions, or joint public library building projects. Libraries must also be certified in the State Aid to Public Libraries program and have an updated Long Range Plan and Action Plan for FY2012, among other eligibility requirements. Letters of Intent must be postmarked by October 5, 2010. Applications are due January 27, 2011. The MBLC will hold grant application workshops in October 2010 and the Board will consider the grant award recommendations at its monthly meeting in July 2011.
The last time the Board awarded construction grants was in August 2008. The following communities have completed construction or are moving forward with funding from that grant round:
| Municipality | Library | Award |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Mattapan | Boston Public Library-Mattapan (Branch) | $5,222,907 |
| Boxford* | Boxford Town Library | $2,784,242 |
| Buckland | Buckland Public Library | $529,598 |
| Dighton* | Dighton Public Library | $2,341,560 |
| Dudley | Pearl L. Crawford Memorial Library | $87,813 |
| Falmouth | Falmouth Public Library | $3,071,749 |
| Foxborough | Boyden Library | $3,461,606 |
| Holyoke* | Holyoke Public Library | $4,367,594 |
| Mashpee | Mashpee Public Library | $2,934,541 |
| Millis* | Millis Public Library | $2,789,569 |
| Walpole | Walpole Public Library | $3,896,184 |
| Westhampton | Westhampton Memorial Library | $1,065,074 |
| Westwood | Westwood Public Library | $3,698,929 |
| Woburn* | Woburn Public Library | $4,775,727 |
The Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program was established by Chapter 478 of the Acts of 1987. The program was first funded in 1990 and since then 290 grants have been awarded totaling $304 million for 209 construction projects and 81 projects for planning and design.
For further details about the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program, please visit Public Library Construction. For specific information about the 2010-2011 grant round, please see 2010-2011 Construction Grant Round.