Pirate Magic with Captain Robbie Bones Wednesday, February 22 – 2 p.m. Set sail with pirate Captain Robbie Bones: magician and juggler extraordinaire. Frozen...
WESTFORD received notice from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) that it is in line for a provisional state-funded grant in the amount of $7,851,994.00 under the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP) 2017. This $7.8 million of matching funds and town costs was 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]