The Library Building Committee, along with the Library Trustees and our advisors, have been hard at work preparing for construction on the new library to begin early this Fall. In addition to our regular monthly meetings, we've been holding biweekly meetings with our construction manager Turnstone to finalize all the necessary details ahead of breaking ground. A few highlights:

• The bonds have been finalized with the bond bank and funds will be released to the town in early August. 

• The NEPA review is completed and approved! All requirements for our NEH grant have now been satisfied. 

• Carter has been selected as the project's fire suppression subcontractor; they are working with Turnstone and the LBC to finalize pump and cistern requirements for the system. 

• Throughout the next two months, the architect DSK will be updating the plans and specifications with the minor modifications associated with the fire suppression system and other miscellaneous items. 

• The LBC and Trustees have met with the Town's new building inspector to discuss process, schedule and deliverables. The inspector will perform a thorough review of the plans and specifications when DSK's updates are completed. 

• Road construction will start mid-July. The Selectmen are overseeing the road project, which will be executed by Preston Excavation. Turnstone will work closely with Preston to ensure a seamless building process. 

• Longchamp has been selected as the project's electrical subcontractor, and is working with Eversource to secure the project's transformer. There had previously been very long lead times for transformers due to pandemic delays. We are very happy to report this will not be an issue for our project!

• The MVLCF is continuing to pursue additional grant opportunities to fund deferred items. We are happy to report that these efforts have been successful and over $100,000 in additional funds have been raised!

We will continue to update this page periodically as the project advances. Check back for progress, including a groundbreaking date soon to be announced! 

Because the library project received a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant, NEH is required to engage in appropriate levels of public involvement for federal actions that require compliance under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), EO 11988: Floodplain Management, EO 11990: Wetlands Protection, and EO 12898: Environmental Justice. The project NEPA review has been submitted and is posted for public comments until June 10th, 2024.  Read more here.

At the Select Board meeting on April 22nd, Jack Esposito confirmed that the Select Board submitted their applications to the NH Municipal Bond Bank on April 18th, one week ahead of the due date. The Board applied funds for both the library and access road projects as approved at Town Meeting on March 13th. If approved, the road bond will yield $683,600 to be repaid over 15 years, and the library bond will yield $1,990,000 to be repaid over 25 years.