Community celebrates start of Sharon Public Library construction with Groundbreaking Ceremony

Community members gathered Friday, Sept. 22, to drive shovels into the ground and officially kick off construction of the new Sharon Public Library at the corner of School and North Main streets.

Local and state officials, Sharon committee members and residents looked back on the long process to fund and approve the project and the many people who had a part in its success.

“I can assure you what you are about to build here in Sharon is more than just bricks and mortar, books and shelves, you are building a gathering space for ideas and a community center,” said George T. Comeau Esq. of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.

The MBLC contributed more than $7.5 million to the $24.3 million project. The library is also being funded with a $10.5 million debt exclusion approved by Sharon voters in May 2019 and $6.35 million approved by Town Meeting voters in May 2023.

“I think of public libraries as a symbol of strength in a community,” Comeau said. “Transformation happens inside this building. Children will learn to read, write and imagine. Teenagers will discover a world of ideas. And immigrants will touch our very freedoms. People of all ages will gather here… Secure in what happens in this building is free for all.

Board of Library Trustees Chair Cheryl Weinstein thanked many who had a part in making the project, which started in 2012, possible including past and present library trustees, the MBLC, Library Director Lee Ann Amend, the Standing Building Committee, the Library Foundation, Friends of the SPL, MBLC building specialists, architect, owners project manager and contractor.

“And a special thank you and acknowledgement to the townspeople of Sharon for making this day a reality,” Weinstein said. “Whether you placed a sign on your lawn, voted at the polls, attended Town Meetings, or wrote words of support to the various town committees, it is because of your support that we stand here today.”

“This is the third building project I have concluded in the course of my career. This was the most challenging, arduous and complicated project of all three,” Library Director Lee Ann Amend said.

“Many times, As I travel I hear from some people who say. ‘Do we really need libraries in this day and age?’” state Sen. Paul Feeney, D-Foxborough, said

“Every single time go to a library I see so much more. Four walls with the entire universe inside. Four walls with creativity inside. Four walls with freedom inside. Four walls with community inside.”

“Your reaching out to us and letting us know how important this project was, empowered us to go to the MBLC time and time again and say, ‘Hang in there with us. This is going to happen. We are going to get this done’,” state Rep. Ted Philips, D-Sharon said. “I’m so excited to finally see this become a reality.”

US Rep. Jake Auchincloss, who was unable to attend, sent a certificate commemorating the occasion.

Sarah Graf of the Sharon Public Library Foundation invited residents to support the foundation’s capital campaign for the new building, referring those interested to the foundation website at sharonpubliclibraryfoundation.org.

The new library is expected to be complete in early 2025.

LLB Architects designed the new library. CHA Companies Inc. is the Owner’s Project Manager. M. O’Connor Contracting is the general contractor.

For updates on the project go to: www.townofsharon.net/home/news/sharon-public-library-new-building-information.

To watch video coverage of the groundbreaking on Sharon TV go to sharontv.com/programs/community-events.