Main Library Building Project

Post-Award Timeline

January 2025: Library Commissioners voted to approve immediately funded and waitlisted grant recipients; MBLC contracts executed with grant recipients

Montague was one of just seven towns across the Commonwealth to receive immediate project funding.

January 2025 - December 2025: Planning & Design for Standard Grant recipients

Soon after receiving award notification, the Library Building Steering Committee (LBSC) was formed and approved by the Selectboard to oversee the library building project. 

Per state recommendations, the committee is made up of a combination of Library Trustees, town staff, and Montague residents and includes: Will Quale, Lydia ievans, Tricia Perham, Chris Nolan-Zeller, Caitlin Kelley, David Dempsey, Ariel Elan, Dorinda Bell-Upp, and Josh Lively.

After town admin executed the grant contract with the Commonwealth, the Library Building Steering Committee put together a request for qualifications for an Owners Project Manager (OPM).

Our selected firm, Downes Construction, assisted the Library Building Steering Committee with searching for and selecting an architectural firm to design the project.

The LBSC hired Schwartz/Silver as our design firm. Our project leads investigated the Carnegie Library, its grounds, and adjacent properties as well as the site at 38 Avenue A to determine the cost and feasibility of building on each site. Their findings and recommendations were presented to the trustees and the community. 

Ultimately, the Library Building Steering Committee chose to build new based on that site's ability to support the size of a building that we need and the fact that it's much more financially viable for the taxpayers.  They made that recommendation to the Library Trustees, who unanimously voted to approve the site. 

Next, the architects put together several designs for the community to review. There was ample opportunity for residents to weigh in on the project and feedback was incorporated into the the final design.

After the designs were completed, we sent it off to the state for review.

December 2025 - January 2026: Independent review of MPLCP Level of Design

The state reviewed and ultimately approved our designs by their guidelines.

February 2026: Estimates based on MPLCP Level of Design; Construction phase grant awards calculated

March 2026: Commissioners voted to approve Construction phase grant awards

March - June 2026: Certified votes for local approvals and appropriations for Construction phase local funding

After the town learned how much the library building project will cost and how much of that cost the state will cover, then town administration  estimated the amount of money that the town is responsible for and needs to appropriate. 

May 2026: The town put a debt exclusion ballot initiative article before town meeting members. Since winning that vote 81 to 3, the project moved to a special election to be voted on by all Montague voters on Wednesday, June 24th. This vote passed 56% to 44%.

June 2026 - June 2027: Design work from completion of schematic design through construction documents

July 2027: Bidding

August 2027: Construction contracts for projects (usually 16 to 24 months)

You can find all the grant application materials on the Library Building Steering Committee Page on the town's website: https://montague-ma.gov/g/80/Library-Building-Steering-Committee

Additional documents:

Strategic Plan, 2022

Strategic Plan Survey Results, 2022

Carnegie Library Survey Responses for Grant, 2023

Survey Responses Infographic, 2023

Mid-Design Survey, 2025

Schematic Design Cost Breakdown, 2026

In 1915 the Trustees of the Carnegie Library realized their new building wasn’t big enough to serve the community. Since then, plans for expansion have been unsuccessful. We have been making do with a too-small, inaccessible space for over 100 years.

Through the state‘s library construction program, we have the chance to construct a new library to meet the evolving needs of the patrons we serve. If we do not act now, it will be 20 to 30 years before the town's interest in applying for grant funds again will be taken seriously.

Specific building issues include:

Inaccessibility: 

• Though there is a wheelchair ramp, many portions of the library are not accessible to those using a wheelchair or walker, including the whole second floor, the basement where the Friends of the Library hold their book sales, the public restroom, as well as the fiction, non-fiction, DVD, audiobook, or local history collections. 

Lack of adequate collection space:

• For every item that is purchased for the Carnegie Library, one must be removed.
• Though library staff take pride in purchasing a diverse and varied collection of materials to suit the many interests and needs of the community, we are regularly forced to get rid of items that are only a few years old to make room for new items.
• A lack of room also means that we do not have space for collections that the community has expressed much interest in, including more graphic novels, manga, indigenous history, etc.

Lack of quiet or comfortable study space:

• With room for only two armchairs in Carnegie’s reading room, there’s little space for patrons to sit and read or work.
• The reading room must also fit the libraries’ public computers, fax/copy machine, non-fiction collections, magazines, and newspapers in a space under 300sq/ft.
• It is difficult, if not impossible, to navigate that space in a walker, wheelchair, or with a stroller.
• The space is so cramped that it is physically difficult and/or uncomfortable for library staff to assist patrons with computer questions.

Lack of effective staff space: 

• There is no non-public staff space on the first floor, so books and other materials must be carried either up or down a flight of stairs to be processed for circulation.
• Staff work in cramped conditions behind the circulation desk, and most do not have workstations of their own.
• There’s a disconnect between those working with the public on the first floor and those on the other floors. The Library Director, Library Technician, and Youth Services Librarian can’t see or hear if there’s a line at the desk, if a patron needs in-depth assistance, or if a patron is hassling a staff member. This could potentially lead to dangerous situations.

Inadequate children’s and teen spaces:

• The children’s room is very small. There is no space for adult chairs, which would allow caregivers to read to their children.
• There is no space for children’s computers.
• There is also limited space for children to meet other children to foster play and healthy socialization skills nor is there space for parents to meet other parents and build community.
• The teen collection is very small and located close to the children’s picture books, making for a patently uncool teen hang spot.

Inadequate programming and meeting space: 

• Though the second floor of the library previously provided program space, we are no longer allowed to use it, by law, because it is inaccessible.
• There is limited space and inadequate technology to support small meetings or large programs.

Inefficient and non-resilient systems: 

• While the quality of the air at the Carnegie was improved by the installation of an ERV some years ago, the building’s systems are not efficient.
• The building is heated and cooled with costly oil and electric systems that leave parts of the library boiling and other parts freezing. This makes for a space that is uncomfortable to work or spend time in.
• Inefficient systems also use more energy than they should and cost extra tax-payer dollars to run.
• As the library is relied upon more and more heavily to serve as a cooling or warming center during periods of extreme weather, the ability of the building to respond to these weather extremes becomes more important. 

Programs include, but are certainly not limited to: Technology talks, database instruction, job seeker workshops, author events, local history lectures, craft programs, game nights, puzzle competitions, gardening programs, genealogy research instruction, concerts, gallery openings, string jams, book clubs, cookbook clubs, art classes, movie screenings, card making, tai chi, yoga, bike repair instruction, fix-it/repair cafes, language learning circles, writing groups, fiber arts clubs, bilingual music and movement, playgroup, storytimes, STEM workshops, astronomy programs, animal programs (reptiles, bunnies, and birds of prey-oh my!), Whale Mobile, Dino Man, Youth AstroNet program, Life-Sized Candyland, nature workshops, maker activities, and much much more.

Your Library, Your Voice Presentations and Recordings:

• July 29: Meet the Architects and Share Your Ideas: Schwartz/Silver presentation | MCTV event recording
• August 14: Site Selection and Why: Schwartz/Silver presentation | MCTV event recording
• September 11: Concepts Reveal: Schwartz Silver presentation | MCTV event recording
• March 17th: Project Overview and Funding: Presentation | MCTV event recording

The Library Trustees and the Library Building Steering Committee (LBSC) have voted on several measures to keep building costs low.

First, $5 million dollars were saved by deciding to building new, rather than renovating and adding onto the Carnegie Library. A renovation/addition would have required moving the existing building within the lot, purchasing and demolishing the adjacent multi-family house, dealing with asbestos, and re-digging the foundation.

Design decisions that will lead to significant cost savings on the new building include:

• Decreasing the height of the building. Instead of matching the height of the adjacent Crocker building, the height of the new library building will be several feet lower. A higher roof on the building's second floor community room will ensure that that space feels proportional, but other parts of the building will feature a lower roof. This will save materials costs during the construction phase and energy costs over the long term. A 3-4 foot tall parapet will surround the roof, maintaining the historic character of Avenue A and hiding the rooftop mechanical systems from view.
• Opting not to include a basement. Instead of incorporating a basement, which would cost roughly $2 million dollars, the Trustees and the LBSC instead opted to incorporate sufficient storage space on the first and second floors and to locate the majority of the building's mechanical systems on the roof.
• Using a steel structure rather than mass timber. The Trustees and LBSC opted to use traditional steel structures at a 20-25% cost savings over mass timber.
• Opting for an air to water heat pump hydronic system instead of geothermal. By opting for an air to water hydronic system, the building will be all electric and meet specialized stretch code, allowing for Montague to access additional funds through the Green Library Incentive, but without spending tens of thousands of dollars on a geothermal system.

Yes. While the operating cost per square foot will decrease, the overall operating costs are estimated to increase by $27,126 to $48,230 annually, depending on the size of the solar array that could be installed on the roof and how much energy the building would use. 
This range amounts to a 5% to 8% increase in the libraries’ budget, a 0.01% increase in the town’s FY25 budget, and would cost less than $10 per year for the average taxpayer. 
Included in this range are all heating and cooling costs as well as a 12 hr/wk Library Assistant, to cover the children’s desk on nights and Saturdays, and 8 additional hours of custodial work per week.
These operating costs may be offset by renting the community room for private events, such as birthday parties, corporate events, and weddings.

• The LBSC intends to meet the state's Green Library Incentive by opting for specialized stretch code. Resilient building practices will be incorporated whenever possible.
• The new building will be all-electric and be heated and cooled by and air to water hydronic heat pump with an electric boiler back up.
• A solar array will be incorporated on the building's roof and infrastructure for a generator has been included so that the building can be used as a heating or cooling center, even when the power goes out.
• Low carbon concrete will be used throughout.
• Triple-pane windows will be incorporated throughout to reduce energy costs.

• One of the many reasons that the Library Building Steering Committee hired Schwartz/Silver Architects is because of their ability to design a new building that looks like it's been a part of the neighborhood for a century.
• Our team of architects crafted a design that fits in seamlessly with the Avenue A streetscape. The building will be two stories, about as tall as the neighboring Crocker building, and features a brick facade with granite banding, granite details, brick parapet,and windows inspired by those of 113 Avenue A.
• On the back of the building, a large second floor roof garden will look out over the Connecticut River.
• You can find the new building's floorplans and renderings here: https://montaguepubliclibraries.org/about/library-building-project/library-building-project-building-renderings-and-floor-plans

A new library will be fully accessible and include:

• A large community room for library programs that community groups can book (even after hours).
• A second-floor garden terrace that can be used for programs, reading, working, and relaxing.
• A children's room with space for play, reading with caregivers, and collections for children of all ages.
• A tween nook within the children's room with separate collections and computers.
• A children's program room for early literacy programming and activities of all kinds. This room will also be used for craft programs for teens and adults.
• A separate teen area that teens actually want to hang out in that is connected by a window to the children's room for supervision
• Three quiet study rooms for solo or small group work with all the technology needed to take video calls, etc.
• A cozy reading room with comfortable chairs, tables, and plenty of outlets
• An accessible local history room, where photos, documents and artifacts can be safely preserved and displayed and that can also serve as a meeting or program space
• Staff workspaces are centralized to improve efficiency and ease of patron access to various different kinds of services, from in-depth research help, technology assistance, reader’s advisory, circulation assistance, and more!

• No. The Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program is completely state-funded and has already been bonded. The money for our project is in the bank.

• The architects and the Library Buildings Steering Committee held three community input events last summer and one, focused on project financing this spring. There will be several, smaller community events in as many Montague neighborhoods as we can muster between now and June 24th. Check our calendar for future events. 

• While the future of the Carnegie is unknown at this time, the building itself will never be in jeopardy because of its historic preservation restriction. This means that its facade cannot be altered and the building cannot be torn down. If we can't find a non-profit or cultural institution to purchase the building, then the town will submit a request for purchase, with rules for what the building can or cannot be used for.

• Talk to your friends, neighbors, community leaders, and town meeting members about the Carnegie Library, the unmet needs of the community, and the opportunity we have to fund a good portion of the project with state monies. Talk about the ways that an expanded or new library building could fill these needs. Montague deserves a library facility that fully serves the community.
• The Friends of the Libraries of the Montague Public Libraries will start fundraising for this project in the next few months. Please consider joining the Friends group and/or attending future fundraising events.