Westborough Library On Waitlist For $9 Million In Funding From State

WESTBOROUGH, MA—This week, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) awarded nine communities Provisional Construction Grants through the state-funded Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP). Twenty-four other communities, including Marlborough, Westborough and Grafton, have been placed on a waitlist and will receive grants as funding becomes available.

Marlborough is on a waitlist to receive a $10,186,626 grant, Westborough for $9,403,090 and Grafton for $7,435,041.

"The Commonwealth's local public libraries provide individuals of all ages with invaluable resources that they otherwise might not be able to access," said Governor Charlie Baker in a statement. "Our administration is pleased to once again support this important grant program that invests in cities and towns across the Commonwealth."

The grants provide crucial funding to local libraries that enable libraries to meet the growing demand for services.

“We’re sometimes asked whether libraries are still necessary in this digital age,” said MBLC Chair Mary Ann Cluggish in a statement. “The answer is an overwhelming ‘yes’. Libraries are busier than ever assisting residents with job searches or business start-ups, teaching residents to use new technology or simply providing the only free space where everyone in the community can continue their education. This important work would not be possible without the support of Governor Baker and the Legislature.”

The average grant award is 45-50 percent of the eligible costs with the remaining cost incurred by the municipality.

For this grant round, 33 libraries applied for construction grants through the MBLC’s construction program. The waitlisted libraries will receive construction grants as the funding becomes available either through the existing bond bill or a future bond authorization.

MPLCP library building projects are currently underway in Hopkinton, Leicester, Scituate, Sherborn, Stoughton, and Woburn. Communities with recently completed projects include Eastham, Edgartown, Framingham, Reading, Shrewsbury and West Springfield.