The Lynnfield Public Library is pleased to announce that the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) voted on July 13, 2023 to award Lynnfield a provisional grant for construction of a brand new library. This provisional grant offers Lynnfield the opportunity to build a state-of-the-art library for our current needs, and to plan an innovative, adaptable space for future generations.
As long time Lynnfield residents may remember, after applying to the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP) in early 2017, the Lynnfield Public Library was placed on a waiting list for a grant of $8,193,792. The grant was finally given this year, as one of the last Library projects from the 2017 list.
In addition to those funds, MBLC has voted to award the project an additional $883,672 due to increased project costs related to the pandemic. This brings the total amount to $9,077,464 in funds available to build a new Lynnfield Public Library. A natural question that many people have is – how much will this cost the average Lynnfield resident? The estimated cost to build a new Lynnfield Public Library at Reedy Meadow is $34 million dollars, funded via a debt exclusion that would be repaid over 30 years. This is an “all in” cost, which includes:
- $31 million to build the new Library
- $2 million to repair infrastructure to the current Library building, for future use
- $1 million to prepare the site at the Reedy Meadow Golf Course for construction
This cost equates to $24.50 per month ($294 per year) for the average Lynnfield taxpayer. While undertaking our recent strategic planning process this year, we held community meetings and distributed a town-wide survey which clearly showed that the Lynnfield Public Library building is no longer meeting the needs of the Lynnfield community. Overwhelmingly, respondents to the survey said they wished they could use the Library as meeting space for various groups and organizations in town. Many also said they wish they could use the Library as a quiet place to read, work, or study, specifically by using quiet study rooms.
Comments in the survey overwhelmingly talked about the lack of parking, the dark basement, the lack of space for teens, the insufficient number of accessible outlets, and the difficulties of navigating the building with a stroller, walker, or wheelchair.
The plan for the new building not only addresses all of these concerns, but provides so much more. Equipped with more spaces and opportunities for the community of Lynnfield to connect, create, and grow using multiple meeting spaces, up-to-date technology, outdoor spaces, increased programming, and so much more, the Lynnfield Public Library will finally be a 21st century library and the community hub that community members have told us Lynnfield wants. In the next few weeks we will be providing much more information about the New Library Building Project, including more details about the proposed building. For more information, please visit the New Lynnfield Library project https://www.newlynnfieldlibrary.com/ or email Library Director Abby Porter at aporter@noblenet.org.