The Melrose Messenger

Melrose Public Library Reopens After Renovation

By Ellen Putnam

On Tuesday, the Melrose Public Library reopened to the public after two-and-a-half years of renovation. City and state officials, library staff, and volunteers gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony before the library welcomed the public to explore the renovated building.

The City Council approved the library renovation project in late 2021 with the goal of expanding and modernizing the building and making it accessible to all patrons. The project involved renovating the original 1904 Carnegie library and replacing the 1963 addition with a new wing.

The renovations were projected to cost a total of $21 million, consisting of $8.1 million in state grants from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, $2 million from the Board of Library Trustees, and $10.8 million in bonds raised by the city.

The library closed to the public in the fall of 2022, with operations moving to the former Beebe School. While the temporary library allowed the library to remain open, the building was not configured to allow the library’s entire collection to be available for browsing or for the library to host much of its programming in person.

The new library building now offers a range of spaces, from quiet study rooms to a large community meeting room that can be booked for events. The new entrance, to the left of the original front steps, allows for easy elevator and ramp access to all levels, making the building fully accessible. The original Carnegie library building has been renovated into a new reading room, with the original detailing restored, while the new addition features an inviting children’s room with big windows overlooking West Emerson Street.

At the ribbon cutting, Mayor Jen Grigoraitis recognized the city and state officials who were present, including former mayors Paul Brodeur and Gail Infurna; city councilors Leila Migliorelli, Mark Garipay, Ward Hamilton, Devin Romanul, Kimberly Vandiver, and Ryan Williams; State Senator Jason Lewis; and State Representative Kate Lipper Garabedian. She also recognized former City Planner Denise Gaffey (who is currently the project manager for the public safety buildings project) and former Sustainability Manager Martha Grover, who were both present, for their work on the project.

Grigoraitis noted that the original library had opened 121 years before, to the day. “This library has been here for residents across their lifespans,” she said, “and we will treasure this library for generations to come.”

Cathy Mercier, who is the chair of the Board of Library Trustees, also spoke, sharing that she hoped the new library would help the community “nourish the seeds of their own stories” (and literally plant their own gardens using the Seed Library).

Massachusetts Library Commissioner Jessica Vilas Novas shared her excitement at having been able to support Melrose’s library renovation through the state grant. “You have created a truly accessible building,” she said, “and in a time when we’re hearing words like ‘cutting’ and ‘downsizing,’ this new library promotes, instead, expansion and inclusivity.”

By afternoon on opening day, the new library was packed with Melrosians of all ages, eager to see the new renovations for themselves and check out a few good books.

Posted April 18th, 2025