MBLC Awards $7.8 Million in Construction Grants
July 09, 2015
Celeste Bruno
Communications Specialist
1-800-952-7403 x208
celeste.bruno@state.ma.us
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) is pleased to announce that it has awarded General Construction Provisional Grants to two communities as part of the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP). Those communities are:
| Municipality | Library | Award |
| Sherborn | Sherborn Public Library | $3,633,603 |
| Leicester | Leicester Public Library | $4,233,264 |
"Libraries are busier than ever," said MBLC Director Dianne Carty. "These grants will help the libraries keep pace with the growing and changing needs of their residents." Statewide, visits to libraries have increased by 63% since 2000 as libraries evolve into the only remaining free community space that welcomes all residents. Technology in libraries has also become increasingly important. Every 4.5 seconds, a Massachusetts resident sits down at a library computer.
The average General Construction Provisional Grant award is 50% of the eligible costs with the remaining cost incurred by the town. The MBLC also offers additional funding through its Green Library Incentive program for projects that obtain U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.
The MPLCP helps libraries across the Commonwealth meet the growing demand for library services with expanded and improved library facilities. Funding for the MPLCP is authorized by the governor and legislature. With support from the MPLCP, projects are currently underway in Edgartown, Framingham, Hopkinton, Reading, Salisbury, Scituate, Shrewsbury, Stoughton, Webster, and West Springfield. MPLCP funding is also assisting an additional 22 communities in the planning and design phase.
The MPLCP was first funded in 1987. Since then, the program has assisted hundreds of communities in building new libraries or in renovating and expanding existing libraries. For more information about the program, please visit the MBLC's website.
About MBLC
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.