Planning for a 21st Century Library: Westford Voters Approve Library Building Project and Grant of $7,851,994!
In Fall of 2022, Westford voters approved at both the October 17 Special Town Meeting and at the November 8 ballot the Library Building Project supported by a grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners in the amount of $7,851,994; this amount was ultimately raised by an additional $829,263. The proposed library design devotes almost all new space to the public and to the residents who use it most — creating space to put “the public in the public library!” The future design:
- More than doubles the space for Children
- Triples the space for young adults and emerging adults
- Doubles public meeting spaces
- Centralizes Circulation functions
- Increases silent and collaborative study options
- Offers improved technology
- Offers improved traffic flow & increased parking
- Offers flexible spaces to accommodate future trends and uses
- Is fully handicapped-accessible and meets current fire, safety and building codes, and is planned for Net 0
- Maintains the historic facade, while offering a 21st Century rear
For the Community, this design offers:
- Pre-K Child Literacy and Language Development Programs
- Formal Education Support
- School Library Collaboration (PS/PL Collaborative)
- Home-schooling, Tutoring and Independent Schooling Support
- Free Life-long Learning Opportunities
- $13.60 Return on each public library dollar invested
- Job Seeking and Small Business Support
- ESL and Literacy Support
- Meeting space, Conference space and work space
- Boost in property values
- Reclaim state taxes for re-investment in our community
- SEE THE 2022 POWER POINT SHOWING FLOOR PLANS 2022 LIBRARY BUILDING PROJECT POWERPOINT
J.V. FLETCHER LIBRARY BUILDING COMMITTEE PROJECT SCHEDULE – PROJECT SCHEDULE
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J. V. FLETCHER LIBRARY RETROSPECTIVE EXPANSION CALENDAR:
MASSACHUSETTS PUBLIC LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM GRANT SUBMITTAL: JANUARY 2017
MPLCP Westford Application FINAL.pdf
LIBRARY BUILDING PROGRAM & SQ. FT. BREAKDOWN:
J.V. Fletcher Library Building Program
The Library Building Program was approved by the Board of Library Trustees and submitted to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners for review and approval in a FINAL format, for inclusion in the competitive MASSACHUSETTS PUBLIC LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION GRANT round, due January 26, 2017. This programmatic design will be updated during Design Development.