Library Project Moves Forward

By Stephanie Skinner

October 2025

Subsequent to the Otis Select Board’s previous selection of a site for the proposed new Otis library, adjacent to Crandall’s Self Storage on Route 23 in East Otis, the owner of the property withdrew their offer to sell the property.

Without site designation the project would not be able to transition to the design phase, for which funds have already been allocated and a design team impaneled. Any protracted delay in meeting the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) timeline for Otis to participate in their Small Population Library Grant program would essentially terminate the project.

With the schedule crunch in mind, the Otis Select Board, at their September 23rd meeting, unanimously voted to designate the Town-owned 100-acre site on West Center Road for the project. The other proposed site was the former Erbe property, adjacent to the Town Hall.

If the project continues, in the coming months concepts will be presented, and the Town and its residents will be able to weigh in on the conceptual aspects of the design.

The MBLC grant would provide 75% of eligible costs of construction. The additional 25% would be made up by grants (which the current team is actively pursuing) and funding from the Town of Otis. Any such Town funding, if required, would be voted on at the May 2026 Annual Town Meeting.

A Petition, signed by over 200 residents, was presented to the Select Board prior to their September 23rd meeting. The petition, subject to ratification at a Special Town Meeting, would instruct the Select Board to effectively withdraw from the MBLC program by refusing to accept the MBLC grant monies. 

The Select Board designated Tuesday, October 21st, 6 pm, for the meeting. A “Yes” vote would effectively terminate the project given the inordinate economic burden placed on the Town to complete the project. A “No” vote would continue the planning/design stage. At the completion of this phase the final costs would be voted on, up or down, at the Annual Town Meeting in May.

You must be a registered voter to vote at the Meeting. Contact the Otis Town Clerk to either verify your registration or to register. The deadline for registering for this meeting is October 11th.

In the meantime, please come by the library to enjoy our growing list of events, including a reading by Gail Gelburd from her book about a former town resident Sue Moody, and a much-needed Community of Light meditation program.