NEWS RELEASE

At its July 8, 2021 board meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) awarded a provisional construction grant to the Melrose Public Library in the amount of $7,993,290 through its Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP). Melrose is the second community to receive a provisional grant after a pause in awarding grants due to the pandemic. Melrose has until January 10, 2022 to secure local match funding and accept the award.

The Melrose project will renovate the existing library and create an addition. The new library will be more energy efficient and with an accessible main entrance, it will be fully ADA compliant and welcoming to all. Youth services will be improved by moving the children’s room out of the basement and creating a dedicated program room, as well as a new young adult space. The project includes adult program space, community and meeting space and a Discovery Zone for computer classes and innovative technology space.

Melrose was placed on the MPLCP waitlist during the July 13, 2017 board meeting when the first round of project grants were approved. The MBLC also authorized $279,765  as a maximum Library Green Incentive for the project. Green Library Incentives help offset the cost of incorporating environmentally friendly and energy-efficient systems in library building projects. Projects that attain the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification will receive 2-3.5% of the grant award in additional state funds administered by the MBLC.

While grant awards were paused, the MPLCP remained active. Norwell recently celebrated the opening of its new library and in the next few months MPLCP projects are set to open in the following communities: Grafton, Littleton, Medford, and Sherborn.

MPLCP grants provide critical funding that enables public libraries to meet the growing and rapidly changing demand for services. The MPLCP was first funded by a state bond authorization in 1987. Since then, it has helped more than 250 communities build, renovate and/or expand their public libraries. Learn more about the program on the MBLC website and the Building Literacy podcast.