WESTFORD is now #8 on the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) waitlist for a provisional state-funded grant under the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP) 2017. This means Westford could be in line for $7.8 million of matching funds to proceed with a library renovation and expansion in the 2023-2024 time frame. The historic facade on the Common will be unchanged, but the rear will be 21st century. Formal internal Town review will occur and Town residents will vote on funding both at a future Town Meeting and at the ballot. The full grant binder is available on request.

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.
• 2017 – Westford wait listed for MPLCP grant award of almost $8 million