State Grants Nearly $4M to Westwood Library Project

Westwood has received its first official funding from the state as it prepares to move forward with the construction of a new town library.

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, Selectmen's meeting Monday night.

The awarded check amounted to about $3.7 million, which will be aggregated into installments of about $1.1 million each. The funding will go towards the construction of the new public library, a project with an estimated cost of about $12 million.

While the Board of Selectmen and town Library Trustees were more than grateful for the financial assistance, George Comeau, chairman of the state Board of Commissioners also expressed sincere appreciation after presenting the check to the town.

"I wanted to tell you how wonderful it is to come and do these (grant presentations)," Comeau said. "These are the best part of the job, the ability to deliver upon the promise that we make, and that is to help and support communities who want to build and retain healthy libraries. The overall health in a community can be measured by a library and other cultural instituions."

Comeau said he was impressed with the vibrancy of the crowd that gathered outside for the weekly summer concert series, which took place outside the Westwood Senior Center during the meeting, and found it impressive that so many residents would flock to the town's community center.

"I think you are such a wonderful and healthy community to be doing this project at this time," he said. "These times have been very difficult for libraries, and also fo folks in other communities. It's been absolutely impossible for many communities. I think it's wonderful because it really does symbolize the commitment that the commonwealth does make."

But Comeau wasn't the only one to express a word of thanks. The notion reverberated throughout the Board of Selectmen.

"We don't get to this point in time without a lot of people doing a tremendous job," said Selectmen Chairperson Nancy Hyde.  "To go through it at this time and address all the concerns, we have Tom to thank for that process."

Likewise, Westwood Library Director Thomas Viti said he has been grateful in working closely with Comeau while working on the design and funding of the project.

"It's been my pleasure to appear with George before both the House and Senate committee," Viti said. "He's an extremely persusasive spokesperson. I'm just happy to be here with the board of library trustees."

The new Westwood Public Library project is expected to begin this fall with the initial move of The Colburn School. The actual construction of the new building is expected to begin in early 2011. For more information, visit the town library's website, or check out the Library Building Project News blog.