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Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners on March 5 awarded provisional construction grants totaling $29.1 million to municipalities participating in the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program.
The town of Clinton was awarded $11.3 million for its public library project, Montague received $11 million for a new main library, and Springfield was awarded $6.8 million for its East Springfield Branch Library.
Provisional construction grants for these projects cover between 45% to 50% of estimated total project costs, according to the MBLC. Libraries have until June 30 to confirm local funding to support the project.
“Public libraries are needed now more than ever,” said MBLC Chair Vicky Biancolo. “These libraries stand for community, for education for all at any age, for reliable accurate information, for access to stories and ideas that represent the diverse world and experiences around us.”
The new East Springfield Branch Library, to be built on the lot of the current branch, will be an energy-efficient facility with separate spaces for children, teens, and adults, a children’s activity room and a community meeting room that can be used after hours.
The new Montague Main Library will offer a separate teen room, a sizable children’s room with its own program space, quiet study rooms, and a local history room. A large and fully accessible multipurpose room will be available for library and community events. The new library will also incorporate multiple spaces for art, reflecting Montague’s arts community.
The project in Clinton, a new 21,775 square-foot facility, will remedy issues found in the current building, which dates to 1903. The new library will be universally accessible, with modern technology and ample interior spaces dedicated to children, teens, and adult patrons. The library will feature quiet study rooms, a local history room, a makerspace, a community room, and accessible restrooms on every floor.
Commissioners also approved Green Library Incentives for Montague and Springfield in accordance with their intent to pursue net-zero library building projects. Montague will receive $329,000, and Springfield will get an additional $205,000 when they demonstrate compliance with one of the pathways to receive the incentive.
The projects were among the 13 approved for Planning and Design grants by the MBLC in January 2025 and recently completed the MPLCP Level of Design independent review, which ensures that each project is meeting MPLCP design guidelines.
It is anticipated that five projects will be considered for provisional grants at the April 2026 board meeting. Blandford received its provisional construction award in December. Six projects that were waitlisted will receive provisional awards as funding becomes available.
The Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program has benefitted 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 Amherst, Blandford, Deerfield, Fitchburg and Westford.
The Swansea Free Public Library, Sawyer Free Library in Gloucester, and Shutesbury Library recently celebrated the completion of library projects.
For more about the program, visit the MBLC website, the Building Literacy podcast, and the MPLCP Municipal Impact website.
The Board of Library Commissioners is the state agency 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, administers state and federal grant programs for libraries, promotes cooperation among all types of libraries through regional library systems and automated resource sharing, and works to ensure that all residents of the Commonwealth have access to essential new electronic information technologies and significant electronic databases.