SLIDESHOW: Public Can Tour McAuliffe Library Branch Saturday

FRAMINGHAM - MA - The public is invited to tour the new Christa McAuliffe branch library on Water Street Saturday between 1 and 4 p.m.

The town’s new $8.6 million branch library, which was constructed on budget and on time, will open officially for use on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 9:30 a.m.

Major donors to the library, town leaders, and family members of Christa McAuliffe received a sneak peak of the library on Saturday, Feb. 6. (See the link below to view more than 60 photos of the new library or click here to view them.)

Taxpayers contributed $3.8 million to the construction of the new Nobscot branch library. The Framingham Public Library Foundation raised $600,000 towards the new McAuliffe Library branch, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners awarded Framingham a $4.2 million grant. Taxpayers share is funded over a 20-year bond.

The new library is 16,888 square feet, almost 3 times the size of the current McAuliffe Library branch in Saxonville.

That branch will close permanently on Friday, Feb. 12.

The new library is spacious, with lots of natural light, and sits across the street from Hemenway Elementary School.

Designed by Finegold Alexander Architects, it was constructed by Lupachino Salvatore Inc, with the help of 18 additional subcontractors.

More than 75 tons of steel and 1,300 tons of concrete was needed to complete the branch library, named for Framingham native Christa (Corrigan) McAuliffe.

One of the reasons for all the natural light is the 5,200 square feet of glass in the building.

Eight hundred donors helped defray the cost of the library. There are more than 630 bricks purchased by individuals, families, organizations and more that line the pathway into the library branch.

Framingham Library Assistant Director Lena Kilburn said the there is close to 70,000 books and other materials for patrons in the new library.

The new library has a huge, spacious children’s department, complete with space for storytime and a craft room.

There is a young adult area, sectioned off by a glass partition, that features comfy video-game style leather chairs, and a row of computers for use.

There is cafe-style seating in the lobby and comfortable chairs to curl up in and read along many of the windows.

There is a meeting room, that can accommodate 55 people, that is available for after-hour use.

The parking lot, has 49 spots, including handicapped designated spaces.

The new Branch Library building will open for business officially on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 9:30 a.m. after the Presidents Day holiday.

• Monday to Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. (until the Main Library reopens. The main library closed in October following an electrical explosion.)

The pop-up Library at 25 Clinton St. will remain open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., until the Main Library reopens.

The McAuliffe Branch will not be open on Sundays, once the Main Library reopens.

Library Trustee plans a grand opening celebration of the new McAuliffe branch on Sunday, May 15.

Building a new McAuliffe Library branch has been years in the making.

Library Trustees began working on the new library branch back in 2010.

In October 2012, the Framingham Library Foundation and the Framingham Library Trustees were awarded a $4.186 million grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners towards the estimated total construction cost is $8.6 million.

In May 2013, a Special Town Meeting voted 149-1 to build the new Christa McAuliffe branch library.

The groundbreaking for the library was held on October 23, 2015.