Sherborn Library Trustees Announce Three-Year $3.5 Million Capital Campaign

The Sherborn Library Trustees announced yesterday a three-year, $3.5 million Capital Campaign for a planned renovation and expansion project.

Although the current library has served Sherborn well for over 40 years, Trustees and town officials have identified several needed improvements to ensure the Library will continue to serve all Sherborn residents for many years to come. 

As previously announced, the Sherborn Library has been awarded an important matching challenge grant from the Richard Saltonstall Charitable Foundation of $400,000 toward the planned renovation. 

The grant will be paid over a five-year period in equal installments; provided, it is matched on a one-for-one basis by other gifts made by Sherborn residents in support of the Library renovation project. 

Although not counted toward the matching challenge grant, over $200,000 has already been donated toward the project from The Friends of the Sherborn Library and private donors. 

“The Trustees are grateful to everyone who has already stepped up with generous donations, and we look forward to continued progress,” said Stacey Brandon, Chair of the Library Trustees. 

“This matching challenge grant is a great opportunity for all Sherborn residents to demonstrate their ongoing commitment to a library that means so much, to so many,” said Mary Moore, Library Trustee and former Friends of the Sherborn Library President. “We all have an opportunity to continue the wonderful legacy of stewardship the library has enjoyed by doing what we can to support the Capital Campaign.”

The library also learned yesterday it has been placed on the waitlist for a construction grant in the amount of $3.6m from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) which represents nearly half the cost of the total anticipated project. 

Wait-listed libraries will receive their grants as funds become available through the state’s five–year capital plan.  The construction grant, combined with private fundraising significantly reduces the cost to taxpayers. 

“[Thursday's] announcement by the MBLC signals a new phase of the project and allows us to now focus on the important work of fundraising,” said Brandon.

The Sherborn Library Trustees would like to thank the town for its unanimous support for $52,000 in the warrant article for a handicap accessible restroom and automatic front door opener voted recently at Annual Town Meeting.

“Once the budget is approved by voters on May 8, it will allow the library to make needed improvements as we strive to make the building accessible to all residents,” said Library Director Elizabeth Johnston. 

She also noted that these short-term improvements have been carefully designed not to be redundant with the proposed renovation project which will provide for full ADA compliance. 

For more information on the Sherborn Library and the planned renovation project, please visit http://library.sherbornma.org/.