Weymouth celebrates groundbreaking for New Tufts Library
Weymouth, MA – Mayor Robert Hedlund joined the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, Tufts Library Construction Committee, Weymouth Board of Library Trustees, Town Councilors, State Senator Patrick O’Connor, and State Representative James Murphy to celebrate the groundbreaking for the New Tufts Library. Mayor Hedlund and invited guests ceremonially broke ground on the site to signify the start of the construction phase of the project. Find photos of the event here.
“This ground breaking is one of many steps toward the new vision we have for Weymouth and its town-owned facilities, particularly our public parks, buildings, and libraries,” said Mayor Robert Hedlund. “Through the tireless work of the Town Staff, Tufts Library Construction Committee, and Board of Trustees, Weymouth will see a new, 21st century library that is receiving millions in grant funding on this site next year.”
In July 2017, the Town secured a $12,085,184 grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) for the construction of the New Tufts Library which will serve as a state-of-the-art facility that will incorporate improvements in not just infrastructure but also programming, amenities, and offerings. Funding for this grant was awarded through the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP). The grant will finance approximately 41 percent of the eligible project costs for the New Tufts Library.
"In three short years, this project has moved from Mayor Hedlund's inspired directive and the hard work of submitting a successful MBLC grant application to designing a game-changing library for the residents of Weymouth," said Rob MacLean, Director of Library Services. "Now, we take a moment to mark the milestone of the beginning of the construction of our new Tufts Library."
“From the beginning, the support for the New Tufts Library has been incredible,” said Nicholas Bulens, Chair of the Library Construction Committee. “Now we get to celebrate all that’s been achieved and all that’s yet to come. In a few short years, this new library will be a center of opportunity, engagement, and delight for countless residents. It’s the 21st-century library that Weymouth deserves, and we thank Mayor Hedlund, the MBLC, and all the many officials and residents engaged in this project for making it possible.”
The current schedule calls for construction to take place throughout 2019, with an anticipated completion date of Spring of 2020. The current plan proposes full occupancy of the new library by June of 2020.
The new library design focuses on flexibility, with priority placed on elements such as an efficient and cost-effective floor plan, spaces that can be reconfigured and repurposed for new uses, and an infrastructure that can expand and adapt with changes in needs and technology over time. Among many other improvements, the New Tufts Library will include: an expanded children's services department with programming spaces for multiple age groups; community meeting rooms allowing for after-hours use; expanded technology infrastructure of public computers and wireless internet; and a local history center to display and preserve the library's nationally significant collection.
About the Tufts Library Construction Process
Tufts Library was constructed in 1965 and was considered a modern library for its time. More than 50 years later, the building is outdated and inflexible in a world where libraries have evolved from hushed reading rooms to bustling community centers. Between FY2010 and FY2016, the number of library programs in Weymouth increased by 23 percent and program attendance increased by 160 percent. Meeting room usage also increased by 44 percent during this same period. Mayor Hedlund and his staff recognized the need for investment in a new library, as the existing Tufts Library has neither the space nor technology to keep pace with this growing demand for services. In addition, the existing building contains asbestos and has substantial repair and renovation needs, including a roof, elevator, HVAC, electrical, and technology infrastructure. As a result of this need, the Town of Weymouth applied for a Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP) grant for the construction of a new Tufts Library.
The MPLCP (Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program) assists local libraries with financing major capital improvement projects, including the construction of new public libraries, the expansion and renovation of existing libraries, and the retrofitting of other buildings for reuse as public libraries. For the past 30 years, every local library to receive a MPLCP grant has experienced significant growth following completion of its construction project.
Weymouth prepared its project for consideration in less than a year, assembling a Library Construction Committee (LCC), initiating development of a library building program, and committing $100,000 to hire an architectural firm for the building's preliminary design. At the announcement of the 2016-2017 grants, Weymouth was one of only nine communities to receive funding out of 33 library applicants. In October 2017, the Town Council voted unanimously to accept the grant and authorized borrowing of $33,061,309 for the total project cost. With the groundbreaking ceremony to signify the onset of the construction phase, the project is on schedule to be completed and fully occupied in late Spring of 2020.
To stay up to date on the construction of the New Tufts Library and the work of the Tufts Library Construction Committee, visit the project website at: https://www.weymouth.ma.us/weymouth-public-libraries/pages/tufts-library-construction and follow the project on social media @TuftsLibraryBuildingProject.