Members of the community joined local and state officials, members of the Library Building Committee, and the Board of Trustees Wednesday morning to mark the start of construction on the new library.
“We are so happy to be celebrating the groundbreaking of this momentous project with all of you,” said Clair Colburn, chair of the Library Building Committee. “There is not enough time to thank everybody who has helped bring this project to fruition.”
In November 2022, Belmont voters approved a debt exclusion of $34.5 million for the library, and community donations accounted for an extra $5 million. The cost per household is $232 per year per $1 million assessed value. The $34.5 million cost includes design fees, construction costs, contingencies, and temporary needs (relocating library services, for example).
From left, Building Committee Chair Clair Colburn, Kathy Keohane, Tom Gatzunis from the firm CHA, Select Board member Matt Taylor and Select Board Vice Chair Elizabeth Dionne break ground on the new library. (Mary Byrne/Belmont Voice) 
State Sen. William Brownsberger credited Belmont for its effort to maintain municipal buildings. (Mary Byrne/Belmont Voice) 
Library Building Committee Chair Clair Colburn thank everyone for bring the new library project to fruition. (Mary Byrne/Belmont Voice) 
Select Board Vice Chair Elizabeth Dionne called the library project a labor of love, highlighting the effort it took to get to the starting line. (Mary Byrne/Belmont Voice) 
The shovels are ready. 
Library Trustee President Kathy Keohane and Library Director Peter Struzziero address the crowd at the groundbreaking. (Mary Byrne/Belmont Voice) 
Residents gathered Wednesday morning to celebrate the groundbreaking for the new library. (Mary Byrne/Belmont Voice)
The former library building closed on Nov. 22, 2023, and library services were dispersed around town. Adult library services operate from the Beech Street Center; children’s services have moved to the Benton Library on Oakley Road, and some staff and administration work from the Chenery School.
The opening day for the new library is autumn 2025.
