WPL Roosevelt Branch Grand Opening One City, One Library Project

City and school officials, community leaders, library patrons, students, teachers, and parents gathered at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 30th to mark the opening of the Worcester Public Library - Roosevelt Branch. The new public branch library is the first of four to open as part of the One City, One Library pilot project. One City, One Library is a public/private partnership dedicated to improving literacy city-wide and expanding access to convenient, neighborhood-based library services.

Equipped with over 4,500 children's books, new computers, early literacy stations, iPads, e-readers, and other digital media, the Roosevelt Branch will provide students, teachers, parents and the community with access to the global inventory system of the Worcester Public Library, which includes more than one million items in all mediums and for all reading levels. The collections will be children-focused; however, patrons will be able to reserve materials for pick-up and return at the branch location. In addition to grade-level reading materials, the new library will house a parenting center and a health information center, and will offer a myriad of programming for adults and children.

The Worcester Public Library - Roosevelt Branch was made possible thanks to funding by the University of Massachusetts Medical School and the City of Worcester. Oversight and project management was provided pro bono by Cardinal Construction, Inc. Other organizations that provided in-kind support include: Coghlin Electrical Contractors, Inc., Knight Security, Inc., Nal's Paint Center, Fine Painting, Sunshine Signs, Rotmans, College of the Holy Cross, Hanover Insurance Group, and United Way. The Worcester Public Library Foundation led the construction and fund-raising effort with a goal of $2 million for the entire One City, One Library initiative, which also includes a mobile library dedicated to servicing the remaining elementary schools. To date, $1.2 million has been raised.

   

The Roosevelt Branch will be open Monday through Friday during school hours for students and teachers, and will be open to the public from 3:00 - 6:30 p.m. and on Saturdays 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. For more information, patrons can call 508-799-8327.

We look forward to opening our next branch at Tatnuck Magnet Elementary in Worcester on November 20.