“What is more important in a library than anything else—than everything else—is the fact that it exists.” Archibald MacLeish
The Town of Marblehead faces critical infrastructure needs at the Abbot Library. The library was last updated in 1989, and we are at a juncture which requires upgrades and improvements of systems that are 30 years old. Short term fixes are no longer adequate to sustain our facility. With major upgrades and replacements of the HVAC, fire alarm and protection, ADA access/stairs, electrical and elevator, the library will continue to be an asset and not a liability to the town.
Construction at 235 Pleasant Street will begin in December 2022 with a projected completion in Spring 2024.
The Building and Renovation Committee meets regularly with the architects and the project management team to discuss the progress of the project. Meetings are posted on the Town of Marblehead website.
Updates on the project will be posted periodically on this page.
Building and Renovation Committee Members
Gary Amberik, Chair
Nancy Arata
Kathy Bradford
Ken Fisher
Kimberly Grad, Library Director
John Williams
Architects
Stew Roberts, Principal
Michael Bellefeuille, Project Manager
Carey Babyak, Job Captain
Project Management Team
Tom Gatzunis, Project Director
Alicia Monks, Project Manager
Jake Zelikman, Assistant Project Manager
Rob St. Laurent, Onsite Representative
Thank you to the Abbot Public Library Foundation!
Members of the Abbot Public Library Board of Trustees, the Abbot Public Library Foundation and the Town of Marblehead Select Board with Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer, Representative Jenny Armini and Library Director Kimberly Grad. Photo credit: Spenser Hasak...
October Update
By Kimberly Grad, Abbot Public Library Director October has been a busy and productive month at Abbot Public Library. Here are a few of the things we’ve been working on: The League of Women Voters partnered with us to offer an Introduction to...
‘Headliner – Abbot Public Library Renovation Update
Take a tour of Abbot Public Library's main building as it is being renovated in this video from MHTV:
Abbot Public Library Renovation Update: On Budget, On Schedule
On May 1, 2023 at Town Meeting, I provided a short update on the Abbot Public Library renovations. The project has been moving forward with great progress and is nearly 20% complete. After the Override was approved in June 2021, we spent the next 15 months developing...
Abbot Public Library Construction Launch Party
In June 2021, the Town of Marblehead overwhelmingly approved an $8.5 million override request to renovate and replace the failing infrastructure of the building at 235 Pleasant Street. An additional $1M from the Abbot Public Library Foundation, raised through private...
Abbot Public Library Interim Space Opens Monday, October 17!
Abbot Public Library is pleased to announce we will be opening at the Eveleth School interim space at 3 Brook Road, Marblehead on Monday, October 17. Our hours will be the same as they were at Pleasant Street: Monday: 9:30 am - 8:00 pm Tuesday: 9:30 am – 6:00 pm...
Moving To The Interim Space – FAQs
In preparation for the move to the Eveleth School at 3 Brook Road, Marblehead, MA, Abbot Public Library will close at 5 pm on Saturday, September 10, 2022. This will be our temporary space during the renovation of our current building. According to Gary...
Interim Space Location Chosen
The Eveleth School at 3 Brook Road in Marblehead has been chosen as the site for Abbot Public Library’s Interim Space. The library will relocate its contents and services to this site in early Fall 2022. Repurposing the classrooms and gym space at the school, the...