NEWS RELEASE

At its April 2, 2026, board meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) awarded provisional construction grants totaling more than $61 million and more than $1.5 million in Green Library Incentives to municipalities participating in the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP).

"We're grateful for the support from the Healey Administration and the Massachusetts Legislature for our award-winning library construction program," said MBLC Director Maureen Amyot. "During difficult economic times more people than ever turn to public libraries. Last year 30 million people visited their public library in Massachusetts, an increase of 7% in just one year. With funding from the state, communities can build energy-efficient, sustainable libraries that are accessible to all and meet the growing and evolving demand for library services by providing community meeting spaces, the latest technology, quiet work/study rooms, and spaces for children and teens."

Freetown was awarded $9,591,889 for the new construction of the library as part of a shared building project with the Council on Aging; likewise, Hanson received $12,586,791 for the library's portion of their renovation/addition project in a shared building with the Council on Aging; and Yarmouth was awarded $13,438,478 for the Yarmouth Town Libraries' new construction project.

Provisional construction grants for these projects are between 35 to 50% of their estimated eligible project costs. Commissioners also approved Green Library Incentives (GLI) for these projects in the amounts that follow: Freetown $287,757, Hanson $377,604, and Yarmouth $403,154. Projects will receive GLI funding when they demonstrate compliance with one of the three pathways to receive the incentive. These municipalities have until June 30, 2026, to accept their provisional grant awards through town meeting and ballot votes.

Waltham's project to renovate its existing building and construct an addition was awarded $19,045,750 as a provisional construction grant and $500,000 in GLI funding. The deadline to accept the provisional grant funding is April 30, 2026 through City Council votes.

Commissioners also awarded a $6,402,354 Small Population library construction grant to Otis for the construction of a new Otis Library. Small Population grants are awarded to municipalities with populations less than 2,500. The MPLCP Small Population library construction grant totals 75% of estimated eligible costs. The deadline to accept the provisional grant funding is June 30, 2026 through town meeting and ballot votes.

These projects previously received Planning and Design grants from the MBLC. Otis was approved in October 2024, and the remaining projects were approved for Planning and Design grants by the MBLC in January 2025. They recently completed the MPLCP Level of Design independent review, which ensures that each project is meeting MPLCP design guidelines. Blandford received its provisional construction award in December and Clinton, Montague, and Springfield were awarded grants in March. Six projects that were waitlisted will receive provisional awards as funding becomes available.

The Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program has benefited more than 250 towns and cities since its inception in 1987. Funding to support the MPLCP's 2023-2024 grant round was included in the Mass Leads Act. MPLCP projects are underway in the following communities: Amherst, Blandford, Deerfield, Fitchburg, and Westford. Swansea Free Public Library, Sawyer Free Library in Gloucester, and Shutesbury Library recently celebrated the completion of library projects. Learn more about the program on the MBLC website, the Building Literacy podcast, and the MPLCP Municipal Impact website.