THE ISSUE: For the last several years, library staff and community members have been talking about upgrading the old building so that it better serves the evolving needs of Medford’s growing population. WHY IT MATTERS: A new, two-story library will be significantly larger and be better suited for studying, socializing and holding meetings

When the Medford Public Library was built in 1959, it was considered a state-of-the-art facility, ideal for storing books.

But for the last several years, library staff and community members have been talking about upgrading the old building so that it better serves the evolving needs of Medford’s growing population. Now, that talk will finally translate into action, as the library was awarded a $12 million grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners last month to construct a brand-new library facility in place of the current one at 111 High St.

The new, two-story library will be significantly larger -- about 44,000 square feet compared to the current 28,000-square foot facility – and be better suited for studying, socializing and holding meetings, according to Barbara Kerr, the MPL director.

“People like to come and hang out and read, but because we’re loud and because there aren’t many nooks and crannies, they can’t do that,” Kerr said. “It’ll be more of a center for community activity, rather than just where we keep the books.”

For example, the book stacks on the ground floor of the new building will primarily be off to the side, so that there will be more space for people to read or gather. The second floor will have 14 public meeting spaces, as well as an art gallery, a café, an auditorium, a maker space, a digital media lab, a local history room and study rooms of various sizes. Other ideas, such as a special auditorium just for children, are being considered as well.

Kerr explained that these proposed additions are largely in response to feedback the MPL has received from the community over the last few years.

“There aren’t a lot of public meeting rooms in Medford, and there’s a lot of demand for study rooms, art rooms and performance spaces,” she said.

Most of the new, niche rooms such as the maker space will be easily convertible to other uses in the future depending on changing demands.

The library plans to attain the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for the new building, which will increase energy efficiency and decrease construction costs. If it becomes LEED certified, the MPL will receive an additional $400,000 of funding through the MBLC’s Green Library Incentive.

Accessibility issues will also be improved in the new building, Kerr said. The entrance to the building will be on the second floor, with fewer, less steep stairs leading to the ground floor, along with an elevator.

Now that the grant has been approved, the next step is to secure local funding from both city funds and donations. In total, the project will cost about $34 million. The remaining $21 or $22 million in costs will be funded through a capital campaign.

Mayor Stephanie Burke said the MPL trustees have already found a consultant who will help the city raise the funds.

“We’re hoping by October we’ll get word from the consultant on the capital campaign and how we can aggressively begin one, so that by April we’ll have the whole pie covered,” Burke said.

Once the funding process is complete, the project will move into a planning phase, incorporating input from community members who will have the opportunity to serve on different planning committees.

“We’ve had a couple people who are interior designers who said they’re happy to be on a committee, and teens will have their own committee to create their space,” Kerr said. “That piece will take about a year, and the library commissioners will have to sign off on all of the plans, and after they sign off, we have to start construction within the next fiscal year.”

Finally, the construction phase will take another 18 months to two years, during which time the library will relocate to a temporary location that has not yet been determined.

Burke praised the efforts of the MPL Board of Trustees, who swiftly submitted a detailed grant application to the MBLC in January. She is confident that the rest of the funding will be secured through similar dedication and collaboration within the city.

“There’s a lot of support for the library, and we feel strongly that we will all mobilize and get the funding in place,” Burke said. “The trustees worked really hard to get that grant application in. They did in six months what it probably takes other communities three years to do.”