WESTFORD — The J.V. Fletcher Library will temporarily move off-site next year during its renovation.
A request for proposal was submitted on July 31, with MOB II, LLC. the only “fully responsive bidder” as of Sept. 30.
The move comes at the heels of an approximately $32 million expansion approved by voters in 2022. The renovation, as WestfordCAT reported, will more than double meeting space and the children’s area, improve parking and technology offerings and make the facility accessible for individuals covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“There will be more collaborative and community space. We’re looking for a place that’s welcoming, that’s much larger and a much more versatile building to be able to handle whatever library and service trends come up in the future,” Rainville said of the expansion in 2022.
Some of the facility’s current collection will be housed at a 13,000 square foot space at 515 Groton Rd. for two years, starting as early as Jan. 2, with an option to extend month-to-month into 2028 if needed. Library services will also be provided within the temporary site.
Rent and utilities for the move will cost $243,060 for the first year, $247,921 for the second year and $21,073 per month if extended into a third year.
The building will also follow many sustainability guidelines to meet the town and state’s commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050.
The project will be subsidized by an approximately $8 million grant by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, as well as approximately $1.5 million in fundraising from the Friends of the J.V Fletcher Library and its partner foundation.
The Select Board is slated to review and could approve the lease agreement as soon as Tuesday night.
