The Melrose Messenger

Melrose Public Library Cautiously Eyes Spring Opening Date

By Ellen Putnam

Melrose Public Library Director Linda C.W. Gardener provided a brief update on the library construction project at this week’s Library Board of Trustees meeting. She reported that the library is “hoping to be looking at spring” for a reopening date.

This is a slight delay from projections the City made in the fall, which had suggested the library would be reopening in early 2025. Gardener explained that, at this point in the construction process, the completion date is dependent on “a lot of in the field decisions” made by a combination of contractors, architects, and engineers. Once the required inspections have been completed and a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued, it will still take three to five weeks for library staff to move everything into the new library and set up the new space, during which the library will be closed entirely.

You can read more about the library construction process and see photos of the progress here.

During the construction project, the Melrose Public Library has been operating out of the former Beebe School, which Gardener described as “ready to retire.” While the building is still holding up for library purposes, a few doors have stopped working and the roof is leaking in several places. “It’s limping through to the finish line,” she said. “But we’re deeply grateful to have had it available to us.”

After the library moves out of the Beebe School, the City plans to demolish the building and build a new police station on the site. These plans will be taken up by the City Council in coming weeks.

While the library reopening date is dependent on the next few months going smoothly, library staff are already starting to look at programming opportunities in the new space. Assistant Director Diane R. Wall shared that the library had received a grant to hold its first Author’s Corner in the new building. The event is tentatively scheduled for April 3rd, but Wall added that it can be rescheduled if the building is not operational by then.

Posted January 9th, 2025