Connecting Community – Concord Free Public Library

Dear Library Supporters,

During these trying times, we’ve been especially grateful for the community-wide support for our wonderful Library. Thanks to you, we have been able to focus on the future and continue our planning for the expansion and renovation.

We wanted to share a long-awaited update with you regarding the Library Project.

Many of you may know that although Town decisions approving our plans were obtained in the fall, a legal appeal was filed in November of 2019. The Library Corporation is pleased to announce that these appeals have been recently resolved allowing for the Project to proceed!

As part of the resolution process we agreed to reconsider a few architectural details: the on-site accessible parking, the configuration of part of the new children’s wing and some minor changes to the window design in specific parts of the new construction. Applications relating to these matters have been prepared and filed. The good news is that our prior Town board approvals still stand. These new filings will only address the modifications mentioned above.

In regard to the Massachusetts Historical Commission, we have informed both the MHC and MassDevelopment that we will not engage in the MHC’s consultation process, and therefore will not be able to accept the Massachusetts Cultural Council Cultural Facilities Fund grant. This is most unfortunate and we regret that the MHC did not respect the decisions of our Town boards, which are most familiar with the Concord Community, the Main Street Historic District and the historic Heywood-Benjamin House. These Town board decisions were made after a comprehensive review process that included extensive input from the public.

We are intent on starting construction this fall. We will work this summer on wrapping up permitting, forming a building committee, and launching a sustainability study. We will be in touch with you regularly to share updates and progress.

We remain steadfast in our mission to provide the Concord Community with a renovated, expanded and improved Library.

We are so grateful for your support and for the key role you have played to move us forward. Thank you! You can expect to hear from us with greater frequency now that the appeals are behind us and construction is approaching. There will be a lot of exciting news to share.

We look forward to a day soon when we can enjoy the Library together. If you have questions, do not hesitate to reply to this message.

Be well.
With sincere appreciation,

Sherry F. Litwack, President and John W. Boynton, Trustee and Campaign Chair

The Concord Free Public Library Corporation hosted two open
Zoom meetings to discuss accessible parking strategies at the Main Library
on August 28 and September 14.

Please click here to see preliminary designs, minutes, and patron comments.

The purpose of these meetings was to gather feedback from our community
prior to a presentation at the HDC Meeting on October 15, 2020.

Share your feedback at development@cfplcorp.org.

Thank you!

SUPPORT THE LIBRARY ANNUAL FUND

STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF RACIAL JUSTICE

PROJECT UPDATE

COMMUNITY DISCUSSION: On-Site Parking

September 8, 2020

Dear Donors:

This Letter to the Editor was submitted to the Concord Journal in response to concerns about Library funds being used for non-library purposes.

We want to emphasize that the Town has no control over donations, capital campaign funds, and annual donations made to the Library Corporation, and these funds may ONLY be used for Library purposes.

A few weeks ago, we reported to you that we had come to a successful settlement of the lawsuit related to the expansion project. Please be assured that legal fees incurred during this process did not come from your campaign donations.

We hope you will share this important information with your friends and neighbors when you have the opportunity.

We are excited to be moving forward with the project. Within a few weeks, we look forward to giving you a more specific update with a projected project schedule.

As always, we remain grateful for, and humbled by, your support. The Library remains the heart of the Concord Community and we are already planning for a time when we can again welcome you inside to explore.

Warm regards,

Sherry F. Litwack
President, CFPL Corporation

What wonderful words from Library supporter Susannah Benner…

Like most of the world, my family is riding a roller coaster of emotions. In between the fears of sickness, uncertainty and boredom, my wanderlust to explore the world has started nagging. Obviously,this is a time to stay at home, but in the last 6 weeks, I HAVE traveled, far and wide. I’ve been to Iran as the Shah overthrew Mosaddegh, and to Franco’s Spain, to the Gulags in Russia, and down a Minnesotan river in a canoe. I’ve survived the 1918 Spanish flu in Mexico, solved crimes in Sweden and summited mountains in the Andes. I’ve cried at the loss of babies, husbands, homes, countries. And felt the power of young love, missed connections, dreams realized, regrets abandoned and adventures begun. My children and I have run away from home, been lost, found, misunderstood, rescued, time-traveled, and safely returned home. Powerful storytelling is humanity at its greatest. In sharing the human condition, empathy is awakened and our hearts open to the world.

Through books and movies we can transcend time and space. I read once that there are really only two stories in the world: a man goes on an adventure and a stranger comes to town. How divinely lucky we are of the infinite number of ways to tell those stories.

During our social distancing, my daughter and I have downloaded and watched movies from the minuteman library as well as e- books and audibles! Utilize this immense selection of offerings.

Support your library today!

Community Discussion: On-Site Parking

Project Update

What wonderful words from Library supporter Susannah Benner…