Politics & Government

Library Trustees Seeking Help from Westwood Residents for New Library

A nonprofit set up by the library is asking residents to raise funds to help pay for construction of the new library.

A local nonprofit organization is reaching out to Westwood residents to help raise funds for the construction of the new Westwood Public Library.

The Westwood Public Library 21st Century Fund is trying to raise the funds as part of a campaign called "Where the Community Comes to Together."

"We are hopeful that the capital campaign will put us over the top," the nonprofit board's chairman, Eric Gutterson, said in a statement on the Westwood Public Library website last week.

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The Board originally set a goal of $1 million in order to help build the new library, which is planned to be about 32,000 square feet. So far, more than $800,000 has been received so far in pledges and donations.

In July, representatives from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners awarded a grant of nearly $4 million to the Westwood Board of Selectmen, along with members of the Westwood Library Trustees

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The grant amounted to about $3.7 million, to be aggregated into installments of about $1.1 million each, which will also help fund the construction of the new library.

The library project was approved by the Town last spring and is estimated to cost $13.8 million. The private fundraising efforts and state grant will be used to reduce the cost of the new library.

"We realized that along with our state grant, an aggressive campaign to secure private donations was essential in winning the support of town residents," added Library Trustee Chair Jane Wiggin in a statement.

Preparations for the initial portion of the project - the move of the Colburn School - began this week. The actual move of the building is expected to take place by late fall.


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