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Project History

"...thank you to the many​ residents, library patrons, Town department heads and members of Town boards and commissions who participated in surveys, attended public forums, answered questions and generally offered support and good cheer to the Library staff in ways both large and small."

- 2015 Lynnfield Public Library Building Program, page 5

The vote at Town Meeting on Monday, October 16 is the latest step in the Lynnfield Public Library's evolution from a room in Town Hall to a state-of-the-art, adaptive facility that will suit the needs of future generations of Lynnfield residents.

 

The timeline below shows the full history of the Library Building Project, from the Library's move to the Centre School House to the 2001 application for Construction to the 2015 Building Program which defined the Library Building Project as it stands today.  Visit the Relevant Documents section of our web site to view the many planning documents and presentations that accompanied these milestones.

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Thank you for your interest in the Library Building Project!

1892-1992

The first hundred years

  • 1892 - Lynnfield Public Library opens as a room in the newly built Town Hall with a collection of 554 books.

  • 1904 - Library moved to former Centre School House built in 1856 - this is now the Children’s Room (1,560 square feet) with a small space over part of it

  • 1923 - Small branch library built on corners of Salem and Summer Sts. South Lynnfield.

  • 1957 - Original school house expanded by 700 square feet

  • 1964-2014 - Lynnfield's population remains stable at around 11,500, only surpassing 12,000 after 2014

  • 1967 - Addition of 7,948 square feet including the Palladium window; parking spaces added (and have remained constant since 1967) 

  • 1990 - Renovation brought it to present size of 14,323 square feet

  • 1992 - Non-compliant handicapped access ramp added to front of building

2001

Construction Program application rejected

June 2001

  • In 2001, Lynnfield’s application for Construction Program monies to remodel the present library was rejected as being non-compliant (not meeting parking requirements and numerous deficiencies in the proposed design).

  • Lynnfield chose not to act upon the feedback/critique and project abandoned.

2008

Town of Lynnfield discusses applying for  a new Library Building Project Grant

2008

  • Undoubtedly, as we entered the 21st century, there was a pressing need for space plans that accommodate ever-changing requirements, access to modern technologies, community spaces for programs, meetings, and study, and specialized areas for children, teenagers, and creative endeavors. Additionally, there was a demand to address inadequate lighting and acoustics, enhance storage, and diversify the collections, among other needs.

  • In 2008, discussions between the Town Administrator, MBLC Building Consultant, and the Lynnfield Library Director about launching a new library building project grant application concluded with a decision to prioritize finding a new site or location.

  • Economic conditions in 2008 precluded further action.

2014

Library Building Program formally created

September 2014​

  • In 2014 a committee was created, a consultant was engaged, and space needs and requirements were gathered to create a Library Building Program (an MBLC requirement)

  • This effort was funded by a grant from the MBLC applied for by the Library (less than $10,000).

2015

Library Building Committee formed; Final Building Program approved,

architect hired

March 2015

  • In 2015, a formal 8 member Library Building Committee was appointed by the Select Board.

 

April 2015

  • Town Meeting approved the library applying for a grant of $50,000 (legal requirement).

  • The grant was supplemented by the Library Trustees’ State Aid monies (held in abeyance for a number of years).

  • OPM (owner’s project manager) using an RFQ review and selection process. OPM then assisted in conducting an RFQ review and selection process to hire Rawn Architects as the architect.

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May 2015

  • Final Building Program approved

Nov 2015 - April 2016

Library Building Project parameters defined and submitted to architect

  • From mid-2015 to early 2017 the Library Director, Library Trustees and Library Building Committee worked with the OPM and Rawn to review needs/requirements, conduct community forums and focus groups at schools, conduct surveys, compile results and further distill and channel findings into a design and plans.

  • Building Committee members and Library Trustees met with Select Board and Finance Committee members individually on numerous occasions to obtain individual approval prior to Town Meetings.

  • Library Building Committee submits the project parameters to the architect - such as desired construction cost per sq. ft. related to finish levels and design concepts.

2016

Reedy Meadow site location transferred to Library Trustees

2016

  • Town Meeting transferred control and custody of 3.424 acres at Reedy Meadow to the Trustees as a part of submitting a construction program grant application

2017

MBLC Grant Application submitted

January 2017

  • Grant application and supporting appendices was submitted having been signed by affected elected town/state officials, appointed committee/board chairs, civic group leaders and submitted to MBLC.

  • Schematic design and plans submitted with application were understood to be preliminary and not final - subject to change when project undertaken

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July 2017

  • Lynnfield was notified that a MBLC provisional grant of $8.2M was awarded.  Lynnfield was placed 19th on the list of grants.

2020

COVID pandemic puts project on hold

2020

  • Town replaced Palladian window on front which hadn’t been properly maintained

  • COVID pandemic puts all capital projects (including Library Building Project) on hold

2022-present

Library Building Committee reformed

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Town Meeting scheduled for Monday, October 12 to vote on accepting MBLC grant

2022

  • Library Trustees reformed the Library Building Committee in January 2022. Nominees were approved by Select Board.

  • July 2022, Select Board formed a subcommittee of Library Building Committee name the Library Building Design and Management Team (LBDMT).

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2023

  • September 5 - Web site and social media accounts launched to help communicate the benefits of a new library and the long history of the project to Lynnfield residents

  • Monday, October 16 - Fall Town Meeting scheduled for vote to accept the MBLC provisional grant and secure over $9 million in funding for the construction of a New Lynnfield Public Library.  Visit our Cost & Timeline page for a full breakdown of costs related to the proposed Library Building Project.

  • If the Town votes to accept the MBLC grant, a ballot vote requesting a debt exclusion will be held the first or second week of December 2023. 

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