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 to allow 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 any 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