WESTFORD — Nearly a million dollars has already been raised for the J.V. Fletcher Library’s long-awaited expansion.
The Friends of the J.V. Fletcher Library have collected about $925,800 toward their $1.5 million fundraising goal to support the project, which broke ground in January and is expected to take three years to complete.
The 1,000 Homes initiative, led by the Friends through the J.V. Fletcher Library Foundation, aims to rally 1,000 local households to each donate $1,000 over the next two years.
Foundation Co-Chair Mary Anne Seraphin said most of the money raised so far has come from other sources.
“We’re almost at a million now, but it’s not as a result of the 1,000 Homes,” Seraphin said, “It’s more because of the naming opportunities in the building.”
The Friends launched the capital campaign to ease the financial burden on taxpayers.
“What we raise means it won’t come out of people’s taxes,” Seraphin said.
The group calls the expansion a “legacy project,” something that will serve generations of Westford residents to come. Because of this, donors will have their names added to a Wall For All recognizing contributors to the expansion, whether it’s $1 or $100,000.
The $32.5 million renovation will expand the library from 22,456 square feet to 35,159 square feet, more than doubling the children’s area and tripling space for tweens, teens, and young adults. The project will also add more public meeting rooms, collaborative study spaces and upgraded technology, all while preserving the library’s historic character.
“It’s bringing it up to the 21st century in a lot of ways,” Friends co-chair Mary Cacciatore said, “It’s making it more accessible and safer.”
The updated building will include public restrooms on every floor, comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and meet modern fire, safety, and energy-efficiency standards. It also aligns with Westford’s Climate Roadmap to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Funding for the project includes a $7.85 million grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, with an additional $829,263 to be awarded once construction benchmarks are met. Additionally, in 2022, voters approved $23 million in town funding through a debt exclusion.
To continue serving the community during construction, the J.V. Fletcher Library has temporarily relocated to 515 Groton Road, where it is offering many of its regular programs and services.
The new library is expected to reopen in 2027.
