In July, WESTFORD received notice from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) that it would be awarded a provisional state-funded grant in the amount of $7,851,994.00 under the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP). This $7.8 million of matching funds and town costs were approved by Westford voters at the October 17 Special Town Meeting and on the November 8 local ballot. Design Development will occur in 2023 — the library’s historic facade on the Common will be unchanged, but the rear will be 21st century. The Westford Library has a strong history of gifts, donations, benefactors and grants:

• 1797 – Social Library founded by 25 citizens
• 1859 – Social Library donated to the Town
• 1873 – Agricultural Library donated to the Town
• 1895 – Jonathan Varnum Fletcher donated 75% of the funds to build a new library on the Common
• 1963 – Basement Children’s Room funded by J. V. Fletcher’s great grand-daughter Marian F. Winnek
• 1969 – Renovation/addition funded by federal LSCA Title II grant
• 1979 – Bookmobile funded by federal LSCA Title I grant
• 1988 – Renovation/addition awarded Massachusetts Public Library Construction Project (MPLCP) grant award
• 2007-2012 – Library Beautification funded by the Friends of the J. V. Fletcher Library, Inc. and Capital funds
• 2017 – Westford wait listed for MPLCP grant award of almost $8 million
• 2022 July 7 – Provisional grant notification from MBLC of $7,851,994
• 2022 October 17 – Project approved at Special Town Meeting [2/3rds vote ensured passage]
• 2022 November 8 – Project approved at the local ballot [majority support ensured passage]
• 2023 January 9 – Deadline to accept grant – Grant formally accepted
• 2023 May – Notice of potential supplemental grant of $829,263

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