WESTFORD — Members of the J.V. Fletcher Library Board of Trustees and facility staff met Tuesday to update officials on the building renovation project, which is slated to break ground later this year.
The approximately $32.5 million expansion, which was approved by voters in 2022 will increase the library building size by over 50 percent.
Assistant Director of the J.V. Fletcher Library Kristina Leedberg gave an update on the library expansion at the Jan. 28 meeting.
“The library building project continues to be projected below 25 EUI [energy use intensity] anticipating Mass Save rebates, is fully accessible and code compliant with new stretch and plumbing codes, has a generator, doubles the current public meeting room space with improved technology, triples youth service space, increases study and collaborative workspaces, has a mother’s comfort room, a neurodiversity corner and an adult size changing table,” Leedberg said.
Some features of the new expansion include an expanded children’s area, will be accessible for individuals under the Americans with Disabilities Act, have increased public meeting spaces offer improvements on parking and technology, be equipped with bathrooms on every floor, will meet current fire, safety, and building codes and will use green building practices and adhere to Westford’s Climate Roadmap.
The town was awarded approximately $8.6 million in grant funding from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, with an additional $1.5 million of the project funded through donations to offset construction costs.
The meeting was called at the request of Select Board member John Cunningham who had questions about the management and oversight of the project.
“I’d like to know how we’re going to manage this, construction project design is one thing, construction is another,” Cunningham said, “I’m concerned about the management of the project.”
Select Board Chair and Vice Chair of the Permanent Town Building Committee Scott Hazelton clarified that the committee has remained involved in the project, hosting 48 joint meetings since money was approved for the project over two years ago.
“The Permanent Town Building Committee has been very much involved,” Hazelton said.
Leedberg also clarified that the project does have a library working group but that they do not make any decisions, only recommendations for the project.
“The library working group only makes recommendations to the Permanent Town Building Committee and the Library Board of Trustees and there will be a construction committee formed once we get our bids back and a contractor is picked,” Leedberg said.
After nearly 50 joint meetings and board and commission reviews, construction documents were fully completed and bids were advertised starting on Jan. 29. The construction costs are on budget and the impact of potential new tariffs have also been added to the contingency budget. They have also signed the lease for the temporary library site and plans for moving and storage are underway.
Completion of construction documents are slated to be submitted in early February.
The Foundation Committee of the Friends of the J.V. Fletcher Library continues to receive pledges for naming opportunities and 1,000 Homes for $1,000 fundraiser, offsetting the tax impact of the project.
The library has plans to move off-site for 2 years during construction. Some of the library collections will be housed at 515 Groton Rd. during the project with an option to extend their stay into 2028 as needed. Library services will also be provided within a temporary site.
