From the Mayor's Desk | More Than a Building: Preserving Melrose Public Library
“Google can bring you back 100,000 answers. A librarian can bring you back the right one.” – Neil Gaiman
So many of us have treasured memories of our local library. Growing up in Melrose, my four siblings and I spent countless hours at the Melrose Public Library, first at the Melrose Highlands branch and, later, at the “big library” on West Emerson Street. The MPL was an amazing resource for us where (when we weren’t being hushed) we read, studied, hung out with friends, attended programs and even, in my own case, studied for the bar exam. Later, my wife and I spent many hours with our two boys in the basement Children’s Room playing with trains and puzzles, finding books, and meeting other parents.
For other families, the library may be where they connect with a book club, hone their English skills, borrow museum passes, meet an author or musician, get access to an audiobook, attend a community forum, use a computer, meet with a tutor, look for a job, or simply enjoy a quiet, comfortable place. In short, the Melrose Public Library’s value extends far beyond being an educational resource—it is an indispensable and irreplaceable community hub.
In March of 2020, our library closed its doors its doors to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the building remained closed for the next 14 months, our library staff found imaginative and innovative ways to continue to serve the community. They cleared stacks and rearranged books so that patrons could continue to access library materials through online reservations and front door pickups and returns. They also maintained a robust offering of online programs, including children and adult book clubs, online crafting, family projects, virtual author’s corners, and a whole host of activities for children and adults alike.
These pandemic efforts were admirable and resulted in some of the highest circulation numbers in the NOBLE library network. But what we have learned through this pandemic is that there really is no substitute for the physical space of the library building. Not a week went by during the closure that I was not asked by several Melrosians when the library would reopen. The Melrose Public Library is a central, indispensable part of our community and we all will benefit from investing in its future.
The City now has a one-time opportunity to help finance the renovation and transformation of this 120-year-old building into a 21st-century community resource. In order to access $8.2M in state grants and an additional $2M from the Melrose Board of Library Trustees, the City must allocate $10.8M in local funds for the remaining cost of the project. As we typically do for capital investments, the City will pay for our portion of the project through the issuance of a bond, which must be approved by the City Council. Time is truly of the essence, however, as we have only until January of 2022 to commit our funds, or we will lose the $8.2M state grant with no realistic chance of getting it again.
I recognize that $10.8M is a significant financial investment. However, because of our careful financial planning and excellent bond rating, we can take on this expense without raising taxes. And while we are equally committed to addressing other critical infrastructure needs, such as our Public Safety Buildings, those projects are not as far along as the library, which, after a decade of planning and design is ready to go today.
We must seize this opportunity to preserve and improve our historic library building, and to make the Melrose Public Library truly accessible to all. Not to do so would be a disservice, not only to all the kids, families, and seniors of today, but all those future Melrosians whose fondest memories of the MPL are yet to be made.
The Appropriations Committee of the City Council will consider Order 2022-29 during the Monday, October 4 remote meeting at 6:30 PM which is open to the public. Community members interested in learning more about how to attend the meeting should visit https://www.cityofmelrose.org/remote-meetings.