SOMERVILLE SLATED FOR $18 MILLION GRANT FROM BOARD OF LIBRARY COMMISSIONERS

 Earlier this year, the City of Somerville
presented a building proposal to the MBLC that provided for a new public
library in Union Square that would more than double the footprint of the
current Main Library at 79 Highland Ave. 
The state-of-the-art building proposal, which was created with community
input through a series of meetings in Fall 2010 and an online survey with over
700 respondents, is estimated at $45 million and includes: greatly expanded
community meeting and exhibit space; quiet and group study rooms; green space in
the form of an outdoor courtyard and terraces that bring
light and air into the building; children's play areas; enhanced and expanded
children's and teen areas; a 200-seat auditorium with after-hours event access;
and a café and retail space.  The new
Main Library will be fully accessible and be secure, well-lit, climate
controlled, and environmentally green. The City of Somerville is currently
seeking match and additional funding to fulfill grant requirements.

"This generous award represents
a major vote of confidence in our community-based planning process and our long-term
commitment to maintaining a vibrant and creative library program.   It's also an exciting step forward in the
City's commitment to Union Square as an evolving civic and business hub for the
entire metro-Boston region," said Mayor Curtatone.  "In this round of funding for public
libraries, Somerville was the front-runner by more than $10 million,
demonstrating the state's support for our community, and to the ongoing
development of Union Square.  Our
proposal was designed with the input of community members, and with all
residents in mind; it includes traditional library elements as well as the
latest in technology, green space, and recreational elements for both young
people and adults.  It will expand on our
active living opportunities, arts and performance spaces, and create a civic
presence in one of our fastest-growing and most popular business districts, as
well as serve as a catalyst for economic activity in the area.  A new Main Library will serve as the civic
and cultural beacon of Somerville. We are thankful to the Board of
Commissioners, Board of Alderman, Library Trustees, and to the community members
who made this grant application successful, and we look forward to seeing this
come to fruition."

"This is a rare opportunity
that Somerville has been given-- to come together and build an iconic civic
building-- a new Main Library for all residents where they can meet, explore,
learn, and dream.  This new building will
offer a much larger and better-equipped community and educational resource for
Somerville residents.  I am so thankful
to the MBLC for this funding opportunity, and to our Library Trustees,
community members and City staff for collaborating over many months to create
an initial design that truly reflects our city's wants and needs," said
Carpenter.  As we move forward,
additional community forums will be held, leading up to the detailed
construction plans. "This is also an opportunity for this administration to
leave a lasting legacy on our city.  With
shrinking funding for municipalities, I cannot imagine that we'll have another
opportunity like this, and I'm excited to be a part of this transformation of
our public libraries, and of one of our busiest squares."

"Though our current Central
Library is a great historic building and a community gem, the plans for a
state-of-the-art building in the heart of Union Square, especially as it
becomes an even stronger business hub in the coming years, are terrific.  I'm excited to pursue this opportunity, and
look forward to working with residents of all ages as we get this going," said
Ward 3 Alderman Tom Taylor, who also currently serves as President of the Board
of Aldermen.

"I'm so proud of how far Ward
2 and the Union Square area in particular has come, and thankful to all of the
federal, state, and local partners for providing the necessary support and
resources to see projects like this come to fruition in our community," said Ward
2 Alderman Maryann Heuston.

The grant award provides that
the building be constructed in Union Square which, as part of the City's larger
plan to redevelop and reinvest in the Square, would provide additional economic
development incentive for the business district. 

"The
library trustees are enthusiastic about our expanding opportunities to foster
literacy, provide access to digital resources, and strengthen community.
 The new library will support emerging partnerships with local artists and
universities to expand programming for children, teens, and adults," said Mark
Howland, Director of the Library's Board of Trustees.  "Mayor Curtatone and Director Carpenter's efforts on
behalf of the library successfully cap over a decade of effort by the City and
community to transform the central library into an evolving, state-of-the-art
facility that will serve Somerville for many decades to come."

Funding for the projects was authorized by Governor Deval Patrick and the Legislature in the General Governmental Needs Bond Bill, signed by the Governor on August 11, 2008. While
libraries that received a provisional MPLCP grant are guaranteed funding, funding for Waiting List libraries depends on several factors including the
state's five year capitol plan and whether libraries that have provisional grants are able to secure local match funding and move forward with a project.