TURNERS FALLS — Representatives from four companies visited the Carnegie Public Library Wednesday morning to express interest in acting as the project manager for either a library renovation or creation of a new library at 38 Avenue A.

The site visit involving CHA Consulting, P3 (Project Planning Professionals), Downes Construction and Colliers Engineering & Design allowed for questions to get an idea of the vision that Montague residents have for the Carnegie Public Library.

“We want for the building what everybody wants,” Library Building Steering Committee Co-Chair Tricia Perham said, noting that people are looking for an “accessible, good public space that is safe for kids, and to be able to have some private meeting spaces.”

In January, the Montague Public Libraries received a $100,000 grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners through its Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program to cover the costs of the design and planning phase of a library upgrade or construction of a new building.

As part of this grant, a project manager and architect are required to guide the project alongside members of the Library Building Steering Committee, library trustees and the trustees’ Building Subcommittee. Designs will be sent to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners for cost contribution estimates later this year.

Perham explained during the site tour that public feedback about the project centers around improving accessibility, having a public meeting space and ensuring after-hours use, along with creating a building aesthetic that matches the historic downtown in Turners Falls.

Montague Public Libraries Director Caitlin Kelley told the interested firms that no definite preference exists, but a new library would “be the path of least resistance,” given the repairs needed and building code requirements the existing library would have to meet.

“It’s an ideal location,” Kelley said about 38 Avenue A. Referencing neighboring organizations and businesses, she added, “We already collaborate with great frequency with the [Great Falls] Discovery Center, and who doesn’t want to go to the library and then get ice cream?”

At the end of the site visit, Trey Logie with Colliers Engineering & Design said he was impressed with the town and that the existing library is a “very unique” building.

The current library, built in 1906, was the first tour site for the prospective firms. They had the chance to see the state of the building, which has seen repairs over the last few years, including a basement renovation for staff offices and storage. The library also is the flagship location for the three branches of the Montague Public Libraries. Even with renovations, Perham and Kelley said there are accessibility challenges with handicapped parking, entrance ways and stairs.

A lack of public space is another difficulty the current library faces. Though the issue was identified more than 100 years ago, renovation projects to update the building have fallen through since 1915.

The $100,000 from the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program will be used for the design and planning phase, accounting for 50% of eligible costs for this phase. Another $150,000 was approved by Annual Town Meeting voters, according to Town Administrator Walter Ramsey.

A final construction cost will not be known until early 2026, once the state reviews and approves the design. The state will calculate its share of the construction costs using an incremental scale, which starts at 60% reimbursement for the first $5 million spent by the town. An extra 17% reimbursement also will be added to the total construction cost, which is based on the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners’ community needs assessment of Montague.

According to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, the Carnegie Public Library was one of two libraries in the Pioneer Valley — the other being the East Springfield branch of the Springfield City Libraries — to be accepted into the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program, which provided $1.3 million in planning and design grants to 13 libraries across the state. Montague began the application process in the fall of 2022.

Moving forward, the plan is to start offering public outreach in the summer about the plans for the library, and a design will be sent over to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners in December. Kelley said she hopes to convey to taxpayers that their money will be put to good use with the services a new library could offer.

“Hopefully, it will not be too much of a burden on taxpayers,” Kelley said toward the end of the site visit, “but we’re still going to have to make sure the community understands the amazing services that an expanded building could provide.”

Erin-Leigh Hoffman can be reached at ehoffman@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.