Submitted by the Board of Library Trustees

Why consider a new library building?
From staff experience and user surveys, we know that patrons want more space-especially for children, teens, quiet study, collaborative and small-group work, lectures and discussion groups, and universal access. Our current building is beautiful, but unfortunately does not support the services needed.

Where is the new location?
The new site is in the demographic center of town, at 195 Main Street, next to the Middle School and a Recreation parcel, within walking distance for many residents, and close to three other Wayland schools. It is on a main road, offering a smart reuse of town-owned land.

How was the size of the new building determined?
The size is based on patrons’ expressed needs, input from staff, library usage in nearby towns and in peer towns of similar sizes, national standards, and state guidelines. The plan also accommodates an anticipated increase in use by students from the Middle School.

What does this new library building offer?
The new library building offers many new features not possible in our current facility such as comfortable seating throughout, a large community room seating 100 and available for after-hours events, 7 small-group rooms, a teen room, an updated children’s room, a conference room, and a technology lab. The entire building will be fully accessible. There will be twice as many parking spots as we have at the current facility.

Has an expansion at 5 Concord Road been adequately studied?

The Board of Library Trustees has studied this question for almost two decades. Since 2001, library services and land use at 5 Concord Road have been diligently studied by 6 committees, comprising more than 70 elected, appointed, and volunteer citizens; 5 professional architecture and engineering firms; 4 independent library consultants; and 2 survey analysts. Along with input from 2,414 survey respondents, plus forum and focus-group attendees, these committees have produced 8 final reports on the issues at 5 Concord Road. More than $200,000 has been spent.

During the most recent study in 2015, the Trustees formed a citizen group, the Library Planning Committee, to research and advise on whether to explore an expansion of library services and whether to apply for a state library construction grant. In 2016, in collaboration with the Permanent Municipal Building Committee, the Trustees and the Library Planning Committee hired architects and other experts to examine suitable sites for expanded library services. After drawing up possible plans and examining the evidence from every angle, they determined that the current lot is too small for an adequate expansion and has environmental constraints that make it impossible to meet the 21st-century demand for library services, spaces, and parking.

What will happen to 5 Concord Road?
As part of a thoughtful and comprehensive process, the Board of Selectmen will consider uses that will allow the building to remain an important part of Wayland’s civic life. The Library Planning Committee suggests that a committee be appointed to gather and generate ideas.

How much will my taxes go up?
The Wayland Finance Committee estimates an average household tax increase of $6.01 a week, or $313 in the first year, and declining in the following years – with a total of $4,721 per household over the course of the twenty-year project.

People keep talking about $18M in cost. But the warrant says $28M. Why?
The total cost of the new library project is $28M, and the state strongly recommends that the town authorize the full amount of the project. However, the state has offered Wayland a one-time grant of $10,137,980 for this project and the Library Trustees are contributing an additional $750,000, leaving a net estimated maximum cost of $18,052,730 from taxpayers.

If the article doesn’t pass at the election and Town Meeting, can we vote again next year?
No. If the town does not fund the project with 2 actions — voting Yes on the ballot on March 27th to use a debt exclusion to pay for the library project and Yes again on the library article at Town Meeting on April 3rd for the new library, — the state grant will be offered to another town.
There are no current plans for another grant round.
The state deadline for these 2 affirmative votes is Wednesday, April 11th.