Shrewsbury – This summer the Shrewsbury Public Library will be undergoing the first phase of a major, $23.3 million renovation. But until that can happen, the library's 130,000-item collection needs to be relocated and housed offsite.
Thanks to the efforts of two legislators, state Sen. Michael O. Moore, D-Millbury, and state Rep. Matthew A. Beaton, R-Shrewsbury, a spot has been found just a few miles away – a building on the property of the now empty Irving A. Glavin Regional Center. The two legislators were able to work out a deal with the state Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to lease the 10,000-square foot building for a “nominal” amount, according to Ellen Dolan, the library's director.
The Glavin Center, which formerly served individuals with the most severe developmental disabilities, was closed by the state in 2013.