WESTFORD — Town officials, library leaders and architects gathered Friday to celebrate a major milestone in the reconstruction of the J.V. Fletcher Library: the signing of a ceremonial steel beam that will become part of the building’s new structure.
The beam signing marked a symbolic step in a project that has years in the making, as the long-planned renovation and expansion of the library continues to take shape.
“I feel like the beam is so symbolic of the town, it’s symbolic of sort of lifting up what’s important to us,” said state Rep. James Arciero, who grew up in Westford and spoke at the ceremony.
He described the library as a longtime gathering place for residents and a space that has helped shape the community through meetings, collaboration and shared history.
Select Board member Noelle Donovan, one of several who signed the beam, emphasized the library’s role across generations. Donovan said her daughter represents the seventh generation in her family to hold a library card at the J.V. Fletcher Library.
“Now more than ever, I feel like our
libraries are so important,” Donovan said. She added that the project is not simply about increasing square footage, but about investing in Westford’s future.
Library Trustee Deb Teal spoke on behalf of the board at the event. She said the ceremony highlighted how far the project has come after many years of planning and advocacy.
“We’re about a year away from cutting the ribbon, and many years of hard work went into this goal that we can now see the final end to,” Teal said.
Also speaking at the ceremony was Vice Chair Scott Hazelton of the Permanent Town Building Committee. He said the project has benefited from close collaboration between town officials, library trustees, and project partners. Hazelton highlighted the committee’s emphasis on transparency, including regular budget updates that track costs and funding sources.
Fundraising efforts and grant funding have helped reduce the overall cost to taxpayers, and the visible construction progress is an encouraging sign for residents following the project.
A significant portion of that funding
has come from the Friends of the J.V. Fletcher Library, which has raised more than $1 million toward the project. Friends President Mary Anne Seraphin and Co-Chair Mary Cacciatore said accessibility has been a driving force behind their fundraising efforts.
Seraphin described the library as a “home away from home” and said the renovated building will be fully accessible to all residents.
Library Director Ellen Rainville closed the ceremony by thanking the many town officials, volunteers and partners involved in the project. She also acknowledged the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, which awarded the town an $8.6 million grant toward the project.
Rainville said the reconstruction represents nearly two decades of planning and community commitment.
“In the future, we will have a new space that will allow us to have untold new opportunities for the Westford community,” she said.
About the renovation project
The expansion of the J.V. Fletcher Library will increase the building’s size by about 50 percent, growing from 22,456 square feet to 35,159 square feet. While the historic Main Street facade will remain unchanged, the interior will be modernized to better meet current community needs and building codes.
Plans for the expanded library include significantly larger spaces for children and young adults, with children’s areas doubling in size and young adult spaces tripling.
The design also calls for additional public meeting rooms, expanded silent and collaborative study areas, and centralized circulation services. A large meeting room with a separate, lockable entrance will allow for after-hours community events, and a reading patio will be located just outside the new children’s area. Bathrooms will be available on every floor, including a family restroom on the ground level.
Accessibility and safety are major focuses of the project. The renovated building will be fully ADA-compliant, featuring level floors, a larger elevator, code-compliant stairs, and a fire suppression system.
The project also incorporates green building practices aligned with the Westford Climate Roadmap, including energy-efficient systems, high-efficiency windows, low-emission materials, and a design that maximizes natural light.
Construction on the expanded and renovated J.V. Fletcher Library is expected to continue through next year, with the building anticipated to reopen in 2027.
During reconstruction, library services have moved temporarily to 515 Groton Road and remain fully operational.
