A grand opening will be held this weekend for Belmont's new $39.5 million public library.
“I’m elated,” said Clair Colburn, chair of the Belmont Public Library Building Committee. The panel began its work in 2017, after years of feasibility studies, community input forums, $5.5 million of private funding raised by the Belmont Library Foundation and the approval of a $34.5 million debt exclusion by Belmont voters.
The grand opening for the state-of-the-art library, which is part of the Minuteman Library Network, takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17, and from 1-5 pm. on Sunday, Jan. 18.
The new library is at 336 Concord Ave.
New Belmont Public Library is 'more than books'
A new bluebird logo has been created to accompany the new library in Belmont to symbolize the new chapter in Belmont and the building’s design by Oudens Ello Architecture.
“It’s more than books," said Kathy Keohane, chair of the Board of Library Trustees and member of the Library Building Committee. "It’s about community. It’s about gathering. It’s being together. The synergies with the bluebird of happiness, but also taking flight, exploring, coming out of your shell, encouraging people to take on those attributes and explore everything we have to offer.”
Unlike the old library building, which was built in 1965, the new structure is ADA compliant, has a dedicated teen space, expanded children’s room with space for messy and creative activities, seven study rooms, four meeting spaces, a community classroom, an outdoor patio overlooking the brook with an amphitheater, picnic tables and benches, a reading porch, Belmont Media Center office and studio.
“This is a huge win for the public," said Keohane. "You get the expertise, equipment and knowledge of Belmont Media Center staff, right here. It’s accessible. You can host any meeting you want here and it could be filmed by Belmont Media."
The community classroom includes a makerspace with three-dimensional printers, sewing machines and a laser cutter.
“There’s no comparison," said Keohane. "The old building was built in the '60s, very transactional, not welcoming, too small. The heat could be on or off. It was either 85 degrees or 40 degrees."
Sustainable features at the new Belmont Public Library
The new Belmont Public Library building contains several sustainable features.
It’s all electric, with solar panels on the roof. And it contains highly insulated walls, roof and windows that maximize the efficiency of its cooling and heating systems.
Natural light permeates the building's interior, illuminating reading spaces and reducing the need for electric lighting.
This spring, the roof will be covered with vegetation and a growing medium planted over a waterproofing membrane that offers significant environmental, economic and social benefits by reducing stormwater runoff and increasing the lifespan of the roof, said Keohane.
“It’s so different,” she said. “It's really wonderful. I’m very proud of what we have achieved as a team for our community.”
Library of things — other items the public can borrow
The new library also has a "library of things," with items such as power tools, cooking implements and sewing machines that the public can borrow.
Things you might want to try first and see if you like using them before you buy them, or maybe you just have a one-time use and need an item for that,” Colburn said.
Parts of the old library are recycled in new building
Granite from the steps of the old Belmont Public Library has been repurposed for the new library’s landscaping.
Nine stained glass and mosaic windows from the old library building are being installed in the new children’s room. Four windows are storybooks depicting a childhood scene, and all are dedicated to individuals who lost their lives at war.
Director expects at least 1,000 visitors daily
Library Director Peter Struzziero said he expects at least 1,000 each day.
“It was a Belmont home-grown project," he said. "Belmont decided what the building should be, how it should look, how it should be laid out. Belmont voted yes. Belmont raised the money."
Belmont Public Library is the 10th busiest library in a state that contains nearly 400 of them, he said.
“It was a very successful library and we plan on this one being even more successful,” said Struzziero. “I think it’s the best library in the state now.”
Past library proposals that failed and state funding turned down
Prior this library project coming to fruition, Belmont turned down two state grants awarded by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners because the town failed to support the projects.
“If we had waited for the next round of state funding, and there was no guarantee we would have gotten it, the cost escalation that the project would have incurred would most likely have surpassed the grant," said Colburn. "Additionally, there are size mandates from the state that would have required certain spaces to have been larger than what we needed."
“Forgoing the application process for state funding allowed us to move forward sooner, for less money, and it meant that the library could be designed to suit the town’s needs,” she added.
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