State Announces Public Library Construction Grants

At its Board Meeting on Thursday, July 14, 2011, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) voted to place Reading Public Library second on a waiting list for a provisional library construction grant for $5,105,114.

Twenty-eight libraries completed the grant round process. Through a rigorous review process, eight projects have been awarded provisional grants and fifteen projects, including Reading’s, have been placed on a waiting list. Wait-listed libraries will receive their grants as funds become available through the state’s five–year capital plan or if a grant recipient is unable to move forward with a project.

Reading Public Library Director Ruth Urell said:  “While we certainly hoped that our proposal would receive state funding in the current grant round, we are encouraged to be poised with a top-ranked project for future funding.  Now we know what work we have to do to press our state delegation to release capital funding to work with hard-pressed communities to build, repair, and improve aging and inadequate public library facilities.   I’m confident that this approved project will be funded within the next year or two, and the result will be a greatly enhanced library for people in Reading to enjoy for generations.

Everyone associated with the Reading Public Library appreciates the beautiful Highland School building, built in 1894, but we also deal daily with its shortcomings as a library facility.  The project would  increase space for children’s programs and learning areas;  create a new/expanded space for teens;  create new spaces for reading, tutoring, silent study, and group study; expand the capacity of a large meeting room and add two small meeting/conference rooms; and remedy outgrown and out-of-date service and infrastructure issues and extensively renovate the existing building to provide full access, updated lighting, traffic flow, security, HVAC, and wiring and to build in more flexible spaces for future growth, changes in services, and increasing usage.”

 Award List – July 14, 2011 (listed alphabetically)

Waiting List – July 14, 2011 (in rank order)

* Partial award:  Athol received a Partial Provisional Award of $1,335,390 and when funds become available for Waiting List libraries in a future fiscal year, the remaining $3,236,757 will be awarded as a priority. The total amount recommended for Athol in this grant round is $4,752,147.

Six additional libraries have been asked to work with MBLC Construction Consultants to revise their applications: In past grant rounds, libraries that revise their applications have had a good success rate and have been added to the waiting list for future funding.