VOTE AT THE ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 19th, 2026, 7PM, FARMINGTON RIVER SCHOOL
1. Why Otis Needs a New Library?
The Library is the Heart of the Town
Over 5,000 visits, in the past year
The library provides free services: computers, internet access, printing, faxing, programs, concerts, classes, books and movies
Free resources saved library patrons $350,000+ annually
The current library is not ADA compliant, has very limited space and not accessible to all.
2. Can We Expand the Current Library?
NO! The adjacent land is not owned by the Town of Otis
Known asbestos and unknown structural problems make renovation cost prohibitive
3. How Do We Pay for a New Library?
The Mass Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) has awarded the Town of Otis a $6,400,000 grant; the town’s cost is $2,900,000. The costs are factored in 2027 construction costs in Otis.
The average cost to residents is $85 annually or $1.65 a week, based on an assessed home value of $500,000.
The town will take a short-term borrow to cover cash flow and a 20-year long term bond.
The goal of the library is to receive enough grants and fundraising donations during the short-term borrow to reduce or negate the long-term bond.
Check out our project website and use the financial calculator to determine how your taxes will be affected: https://otislibrary.webflow.io
4. The West Center Road Site
The site on West Center Road, voted on by the Selectboard, is part of the “100-acre lot.” The new library will be located at the far end of the site farthest from the transfer station.
The site is close to the center of town and to Otis Ridge.
Benefits of this site are numerous: it is easily accessible, the property is already owned by the town, provides room for expansion and presents endless possibilities for recreational and educational activities for children and adults.
5. This Opportunity May Never Come Again
We have an opportunity to receive a state grant for $6,400,000. There is a possibility that if we vote against this grant we may never see another one like it again.
The Otis Library, due to building limitations, is unable to adequately serve all the needs of the community. This would be a tremendous loss for Otis and the hundreds of people who rely on the library for free books, videos, computer access and the many programs offered for adults and children and companionship.
A library is truly the glue that keeps a community together.
