K-ZONE WPKZ FM105.3/AM 1280

Your Hometown Radio

listen nowLISTEN NOW
listen nowLISTEN NOW
K-Zone Studio Line 978.348.1280

fitchburg library

Library closing Oct. 21 until temp location ready

by

FITCHBURG — As one of the many positive changes in downtown, the library renovation and expansion project will begin soon and, until the expected completion in 2025, the library will be temporarily relocated not too far away on Boulder Drive.

The library, however, will be closed for roughly a month, after which the library will temporarily relocate to the Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority’s Putnam Place office.

“The library will be closed to the public to accommodate the relocation effective Saturday, Oct. 21, with reopening at the 166 Boulder Drive location anticipated in late November,” said an official release from the office of Fitchburg Mayor Stephen DiNatale.

Putnam Place will be the library’s home until the $40 million renovation and expansion project is completed in the summer of 2025.

“We are so thankful to Mayor Stephen DiNatale, the Fitchburg City Council, the Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners for all their respective efforts to move this transformative project forward,” said Fitchburg Library Director Deb Hinkle.

Design rendering of the new Fitchburg Public Library. (COURTESY OF THE FITCHBURG PUBLIC LIBRARY)
Design rendering of the new Fitchburg Public Library. (COURTESY OF THE FITCHBURG PUBLIC LIBRARY)

Library officials have provided residents with useful information to help those who would like to still use the resources of the library while in its temporary location:

• All materials checked out prior to the closing will be automatically renewed until after the library has reopened at Putnam Place. Patrons are encouraged to make use of neighboring Central and Western Massachusetts Automated Resource Sharing (CW MARS) libraries and FPL’s online resources during the transition to the new location.

• While housed at Putnam Place, the library will be open and active for all and will have a large portion of the collection available to borrow. Patrons will also be able to rely on the library consortium, CW MARS, to reserve and fulfill requests for materials that they may not have readily available.

• The library will continue to offer information and reference services, public computers, Wi-Fi, hotspots, printing, copying, faxing, meeting spaces for the public, story times, programming, museum passes, and more during the transition.

This is a design drawing of the Fitchburg Public Library and the view of one of the entrances. (COURTESY FITCHBURG PUBLIC LIBRARY)
This is a design drawing of the Fitchburg Public Library and the view of one of the entrances. (COURTESY FITCHBURG PUBLIC LIBRARY)

The $40 million library renovation project will encompass two major changes; overall better use of the existing interior space as well as expanding the space in the library with a new children’s library.

“[The city] will renovate the existing Wallace Library, preserving its structural integrity and creating an interior space that more efficiently, effectively, and safely serves the community,” said a project summary on the official building project site. “[The city] will create an entirely new children’s library and learning center to replace the existing Youth Library. Both elements of this project will not only improve the facility, but also empower the library to continue serving as a key community resource to enable the opportunity to work, learn, and expand personal horizons.”

Of the total project cost,  a Library Construction Program Grant from the state Board of Library Commissioners contributed $12.44 million in funding, $12 million came from the Fitchburg American Rescue Plan Act and $12 million came from “city of Fitchburg funding,” according to the building project’s official site.

The OWL (Offering a World of Learning) Capital Campaign has been raising the additional $3.5 million through the generosity of local individuals, businesses, organizations, agencies and others. The capital campaign will bring in additional funds to cover a variety of expenses for the renovation project including design, construction, furnishings and equipment.

Library staff has also posted a public notice saying that the library will be opening late at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 13 to allow for a staff meeting.

Learn more about the library renovations on the official site for the building project at http://fitchburgpubliclibrary.org/1028/Building-Project.

FRA donates $50K to OWL Campaign for library project

by

FITCHBURG — The Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority (FRA) has reaffirmed its commitment to the community’s educational and cultural enrichment by generously donating $50,000 to the Fitchburg Public Library’s OWL Capital Campaign.

The OWL (Offering a World of Learning) Capital Campaign is a visionary initiative to enhance the facilities and services of the Fitchburg Public Library and has garnered significant support from various community partners within the city. The FRA’s contribution further underscores its dedication to fostering growth, accessibility, and innovation in the heart of Fitchburg.

“Libraries are integral community resources that empower individuals, promote lifelong learning, and foster a sense of unity,” said Meagen Donoghue, executive director of the FRA. “We believe that by investing in the expansion and modernization of the Fitchburg Public Library, we are investing in the future of our city.”

The $50,000 donation from the FRA will play a pivotal role in advancing the library’s capital campaign goals, including the renovation and creation of innovative spaces, expanded programming opportunities and improved accessibility for all patrons.

The FRA is an independent economic development agency for the city of Fitchburg. A quasi-public agency created almost 60 years ago, the FRA is responsible for urban renewal planning, land acquisition, business relocation, demolition of obsolete structures, and public improvements within the Urban Renewal District of Fitchburg.

(Courtesy the Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority)

Rollstone Bank gives $50K to library renovation

by

FITCHBURG — Rollstone Bank & Trust has committed a total of $50,000 over a five-year period to the Fitchburg Public Library in support of The OWL Capital Campaign, a $40 million project dedicated to upgrading the Youth Library and Wallace Library.

This building plan to upgrade the existing facilities will expand the library’s ability to serve the residents of Fitchburg, draw people to downtown Fitchburg, and provide economic and cultural benefits that will enrich and enhance the quality of life for all.

“The Fitchburg Library has been a pillar in our community for 164 years and has been committed to strengthening the community,” said Martin Connors Jr., President & CEO of Rollstone Bank & Trust. “The OWL Capital Campaign will not only improve the Fitchburg Library but will empower the library to continue to serve as a key community resource for people of all ages to work, learn and interact with others.”

The Youth Library, built in 1950, will be updated to provide a spacious, interactive and safe space for children and their caretakers. Along with a more efficient collection holdings system, the Children’s Room will have its own programming room that will have a greater variety of programs offered, as well as an exterior garden where children have access to educational programming outdoors.

Built and connected to the Youth Library in 1967, the renovated Wallace Library will feature a dedicated area for teens that bridges the gap between school and home, equipped with study rooms, computer access, and structured social settings such as comfortable seating and entertainment systems.

In addition, the Wallace Library will feature a technology Learning Lab to provide formal training on basic computer skills, resume building, and job searching for people of all ages.

The current 200-seat auditorium will also be recreated into a large, flexible meeting room, with moveable walls and seating to enable multiple options that are customizable. The large meeting space will be accommodated by a number of small meeting rooms to cater to community organizations, study groups, tutoring and various meetings and events.

“Rollstone Bank & Trust has always valued the services Fitchburg Public Library brings to the community, and we are grateful to have Rollstone as one of the first organizations to pledge their support of our new library project,” said Sharon Bernard, Co-Chair, OWL Capital Campaign. “Their support of the OWL Capital Campaign continues the bank’s rich tradition of ensuring people of all ages, from every walk of life, have a more welcoming and sustainable facility to engage, learn, and grow.”

To learn more about the The OWL Capital Campaign, please visit FitchburgPublicLibrary.org/1028/Building-Project.