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Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners Resource Guide Collection

Managing Your Construction Grant (2016-2017 Round): Committees

So many meetings...

This process is going to add even more meetings to your day. It's critical that the library director participates in as many of the committees and subcommittees as possible, and keeps tabs on the others.

Building Committee

This is the overarching, decision-making body that oversees the project. All the work of the subcommittees is brought to the main Building Committee for approval and formal submission to the library Board of Trustees or the city/town, depending on your local process.

Many towns and cities have standing building committees for all public construction projects.

  • If this is the case, make sure you get official voting status on this committee for the library project.
  • If there is no standing committee, your Select Board, Town Council, Mayor or other governing entity will appoint a committee. The library director should have a role in deciding who is appointed, and should have official voting status on the committee. Some or all of the members of your previous committee (from the planning & design phase) may continue on as Building Committee members.

cartoon of meeting

Subcommittees

Every project is different, but some of the common subcommittees are:

  • Fundraising
    • Capital campaign, etc.
  • Communications
    • PR & marketing, publications, project website
  • Interiors
    • Furniture and finishes
  • Landscaping
  • Event Planning
    • Groundbreaking
    • Dedication/Grand Opening
  • Teen Advisory
    • Teen room design
  • Design/Construction Team
    • A core group that attends construction meetings and does much of the day-to-day work
      • Library director
      • Architect
      • OPM
      • Key building committee member(s) - chair and/or treasurer
      • Site supervisor - an employee of the General Contractor