SHUTESBURY — On Sunday morning, around 60 volunteers joined staff members to remove the 12,000 or so books, DVDs and audiobooks squeezed into the M.N. Spear Memorial Library, preparing them for their short journey to the new Shutesbury Public Library.
Less than five hours later, all of the circulating materials inside the 123-year-old building in town center were successfully relocated to the 4,500-square-foot building at 66 Leverett Road.
“It was a caravan of cars,” said Library Director Mary Anne Antonellis. “We boxed it up, drove it down and carried it in, and it was a party.”
By late Monday afternoon, with some volunteers still on site, all of the shelves in the children’s room, the adult room and the teen room were properly organized.
While a few finishing touches remain before the new space opens to the public on Jan. 10, the way in which the move took place is an illustration of the deep community involvement that has marked the construction of the accessible all-electric building.
Getting the new library built was a process that began in the late 1990s and encountered hurdles, first when residents objected to an addition on the town common and then a failed vote for a new building, prompting the town to relinquish a construction grant in 2012. Finally, there was acceptance into a Small Library Pilot Project program created by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, a successful override vote in 2022, followed by groundbreaking in August 2024 for the $8.9 million project built by Construction Dynamics Inc.
The library is the first new municipal building for Shutesbury since the elementary school opened in 1974.
Antonellis said she anticipates that, based on what other communities have experienced, the library will create buzz. “With libraries we’ve proven over and over again, that if you build it, people will come,” Antonellis said.
Kate Cell, who co-chairs the library trustees, has seen the ups and downs of the project since joining the panel in 2011.
“It’s definitely exciting to see it finally happening,” Cell said. “It’s going to be an amazing addition for our town and we hope people will check it out and feel welcome.”
In fact, the idea of the space is for people to linger and meet up with others, which they haven’t been able to do in the 900-square-foot M.N. Spear library’s cramped quarters.
The teen room, which is its own self-contained space, has special chairs available and televisions positioned along the green walls, with shelves filled with popular materials such as Manga graphic novels.
Beyond that is the Spear Family Adult Reading Room’s orange-red walls. There, two comfortable chairs are in front of the stacks, forming a cozy seating area, and at the far end is the children’s room, with tile floors and “cheery” yellow walls.
“We wanted it to be warm and not have it feel institutional,” Antonellis said.
The small wooden chairs in the children’s room come from a library in Natick, and grants are supporting play items for children with neurodiversity issues. The space is equipped with a toy kitchen, Legos and other toys.
“I think this will become a family destination,” Antonellis said.
Next to that, a small, private study room can be reserved, with technology inside it from a Digital Equity Grant giving people the opportunity to do job interviews or telehealth.
The circulation desk is at the center, and behind that is the staff work room. Nearby will be public computers and a self-checkout station. A small director’s office sits across from the circulation desk, allowing Antonellis to have both privacy, when needed, but also to be in close proximity to patrons.
Versatility and flexibility are themes of the new building, with the shelves in the middle of both the children’s and adult rooms on wheels, allowing them to be moved when necessary.
On the other side of the main entrance is the meeting room, past the lobby where life vests for the kayak loan program are on display. This room, with a sink, refrigerator and microwave, can accommodate 49 people and gives the library an opportunity to host programs, such as arts and crafts funded by a grant from the New Salem Academy. Currently events are held at the Shutesbury Athletic Club, the Shutesbury Elementary School or basement of Town Hall. The meeting room also has all the latest audio-video capabilities, with cameras and Wi-Fi. Finally, a large wall will host rotating art displays.
Outside, the site will feature native plants and three distinct gardens. Because the building is set amid a wetland meadow, with birch trees bordering the site, the windows will have FeatherFriendly markings, protecting birds from collisions.
“We know this will save their lives,” Antonellis said.
Antonellis said in her time as director, beginning in 2007, the town began setting aside $25,000 each year at annual Town Meeting to set up a fund for a building project.
“People were determined to make it happen,” Antonellis said.
Cell cites the $850,000 raised by the Friends, such as from original initiatives like the “spruce up,” where adults did yardwork in exchange for donations, the library being a bottle and can deposit dropoff site, and the annual Turkey Trot road race, The Finishing Touches fundraiser and plaques to honor donor families. The Friends used the recent Giving Tuesday to collect another $21,000 that will go toward both programming and expanding the collection.
“The whole town has done their part. It’s extraordinary that a small town has raised one-tenth of the cost of the building,” Cell said.
Elaine Puleo, who chaired the building committee, praised its members and the townspeople.
“The many fundraisers, the hours of volunteering, they are inspiring,” Puleo said. “Our town knows its value and wants a vibrant center for residents of all ages.”
Residents’ dedication is seen also with the 186 engraved pavers on the main walkway. The chairs in the meeting room were provided by C/W MARS, the multi-library consortium which no longer needed them.
“That was a great way to save money,” Antonellis said. “People saw how committed we were to making it affordable.”
The building is also powered by solar panels, meeting 110% of energy needs. The peaked ceilings allow natural light, and have daylight harvesters and motion sensors to dim the lights to 50%.
Those working on the project also took into consideration life cycle costs, understanding that durability was important, including Douglas fir decking and Glulam beams for the ceilings, and slate siding and a metal roof.
Aside from having more space — the children’s room alone is about the size of the previous Spear Library — the other perk of the new library is running water, with three single-stall restrooms, two of which are accessible, to meet the building code, and a dedicated water bottle filling station. Because the well for the library is considered a public water supply, water will be tested once monthly.
Before the grand opening, a bit more work has to be done, such as setting up computers, training the staff and getting other items and supplies that have been stored in garages and basements in town. The grand opening will feature a ribbon cutting and speeches at 10 a.m. Children will be welcomed at 2 p.m. and teens at 6 p.m.
The library will then resume a 28-hour weekly schedule with the current staffing, with one full-timer, two part-timers and various substitutes. The library will be open Sundays 3 to 6 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 6 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays 3 to 7:30 p.m., Fridays 3 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The library will eventually have a new website, as well.
Antonellis sums up the excitement.
“We’re so glad to have done this and so happy the community made this happen,” Antonellis said. “We’re thrilled.”
