Wayland Library Gets $10 Million Construction Grant

WAYLAND, MA—Wayland succeeded and is getting a big hand from the state this week, and is receiving $10,137,980 for the Wayland Free Public Library.

The Board of Library Trustees of the Wayland Free Public Library announced that the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) has awarded the library a Provisional Construction Grant totaling $10,137,980. The grant is part of the MBLC’s Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP) which helps libraries across the state meet the growing demand for library services with expanded and improved library facilities.

Thirty-three applications for new construction of a public library or expansion and renovation of an existing library were submitted to the MPLCP during this competitive grant round, said the announcement. Of these 33 applications, 9 libraries were awarded outright grants, and 24 were assigned to a wait list.

Because the library plans to attain the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, it is also eligible for additional state funding through the Green Library Incentive, created by the MBLC in 2008 to encourage sustainable energy-efficient public library construction, continues the press release.

Provisional grants were also awarded to libraries in Dartmouth, Hadley, Kingston, Medford, Norwell, Springfield, Sutton, and Weymouth.

The Board of Library Trustees looks forward to continue working with residents, our design team, and town boards to refine the design of the proposed library building, to secure town funding, and to begin a private fundraising effort for the project. The Board is eager to take advantage of this opportunity to enhance and modernize library facilities and services in Wayland.

Information submitted by Board of Library Trustees

Photo via town of Wayland