Library Repair Project Updates

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The vote on the Library Repair Project will take place at the Annual Town Meeting on March
22, 2025 in the Westborough High School Auditorium.

See the official warrant here.

ARTICLE 9: Library Building Repair Construction, Temporary Library, and Relocation (Library Building Committee)
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow, or transfer from available funds, the sum of Twelve Million Four Hundred Five Thousand One Hundred Seventy Three Dollars ($12,405,173) to fund design, construction, and project management costs for the purpose of repairs and building improvements of the Westborough Public Library, preparation and maintenance of a temporary library for use during construction and relocation to and from the temporary library, including al costs incidental or related thereto, and to meet this appropriation, to authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Select Board, to borrow said sum under M.G.L Chapter 44, Section 7(1) as amended, or any other enabling authority, and to issue bonds or notes of the Town therefore, said sum to be expended under the direction of the Library Building Committee, which is authorized to enter into al agreements and execute any and al instruments and to take al related actions necessary or appropriate to effect the forgoing, and, further, to authorize the Board of Library Trustees to grant any utility and/or other easements on the Westborough Public Library property as may be appropriate to provide services to the Library, or take any other action thereon.

Article Information: This article provides funding for necessary repairs, required code upgrades, and infrastructure enhancements for the Westborough Public Library. It includes funding for construction, as wel as the relocation (to and from) and fit-out of a temporary library to be located on the first floor of the Community Center. To date, the investment in this project includes $360,459 for schematic design, approved at the March 2023 Town Meeting, and $1,178,632 for design development and construction bidding, approved at hte March 2024 Town Meeting. Design and bidding for the library work are complete, and hte project si ready ot move forward with construction, pending approval by Town Meeting. The motion for this article requires a two-thirds majority vote.

Project Details:

• Cost: Article 9 represents an ask for 12.4 million dollars to fund the final/construction phase of the Library Repair Project. This reflects a reduction of about 1.5 million dollars from our 2024 cost estimate. 
• Scope of the Project: The Library Repair Project will address major repairs and
  necessary upgrades to the library’s infrastructure, including:
  • Replacement of the slate roof on the 1908 building and the roof on the 1980
    addition.
  • Replacement of the failing HVAC system (installed between 1980 and 2012).
  • Preservation and restoration of the 1908 windows.
  • Installation of a fire suppression system.
  • Upgrading to electrical systems to make code compliant.
  • Ensuring ADA compliance, including adequate restrooms.
  • Reallocation of space for teens and adults.
  • Upgrading infrastructure in the meeting room and children’s programming space.

About the Team

The Library Repair Project is being led by a team of dedicated and experienced volunteer
community members. They have worked transparently to present Westborough taxpayers with
the most cost-efficient plan to replace aging and failing systems, address deferred maintenance,
and minimize impacts to patron services.