Renovation News

exterior of abbot public library marblehead, MA

“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

Johnson Roberts Associates 

Stew Roberts, Principal

Michael Bellefeuille, Project Manager

Carey Babyak, Job Captain

Project Management Team

CHA Consulting 

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!

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

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Abbot Public Library Construction Launch Party

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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...

Moving To The Interim Space – FAQs

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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

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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...