New Medford Library To Be Named After Bloomberg Family

MEDFORD, MA — Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Medford Public Library Foundation announced Tuesday that the new library will be named after Michael Bloomberg and Marjorie Bloomberg Tiven's parents, who lived in Medford for 65 years. Michael Bloomberg contributed $3 million toward the construction of the library, which is expected to open in fall of 2021.

"The Medford Public Library played such a big role in our community, and in my family, when my sister and I were growing up," Bloomberg said in a statement. "Our father was passionate about books and our mother joined one of the library’s first reading groups – and she continued returning to the library for clubs and programs throughout her life. It means a lot to Marjorie and me to have our parents’ names attached to an institution that was such an important part of our childhood, and that provides such important resources to people of all ages in our hometown."

The new library on High Street, designed by Boston architects Schwartz Silver and being constructed by Quincy-based G&R Construction, will replace the former building, which opened in 1960. It will nearly double the usable square footage and solve past issues with accessibility, noise, design and technology.

The former library hosted more than 200,000 visitors annually, and the new building was designed to better meet their needs while allowing ample space and opportunities for new patrons. The library will feature multiple meeting rooms, private study spaces, a large performance room, a maker-space and tech lab, a local history room, café and gallery.

Children's and teen spaces will occupy the second level, with the adult reading room and research area on the first level. Young readers will have their own age-appropriate spaces to enjoy, while adult visitors will be able to study in a quiet space, work at the laptop bar or curl up with a book in a comfortable corner. The building will also have a terrace for outside reading and relaxation in the shade of the historic beech tree on Hillside Avenue.

The library promises cutting edge technology and will be fully ADA compliant, energy efficient and LEED-certified.

"My parents instilled in my brother and me a love of learning and reading, and the Medford Library gave us the chance to explore new worlds and broaden our horizons," Marjorie B. Tiven, founder and president of Global Cities, Inc., said in a statement. "It was central to the city’s social and cultural life and a treasured resource for so many families. The new library will open doors for even more people through books and learning – expanding opportunity, enriching the community, and improving lives. I know our parents would be proud to be playing a role in the next chapter of the library’s history."

The city received a $12.2 million grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners in 2017, which will cover nearly half the estimated $27.5 million project cost. City funds will cover an additional portion of the costs.

In 2018, the Medford Public Library Foundation was established to raise, manage and monitor the private funds needed for the construction, outfitting, maintenance, and operation of the Medford Public Library. MPLF aims to raise a minimum of $5 million from the private sector and foundations. Bloomberg's $3 million gift is being added to $1.5 million in gifts and pledges already made by institutions such as Agero, Brookline Bank, Cache Medford, Century Bank, The Cummings Foundation, East Cambridge Savings Bank, John Pereira, the John and Thelma Connors Foundation, the Laura Paul Fund, Medford Rotary, Medford Kiwanis, Members Plus Credit Union, Sentry Auto Group and Tufts University.

MPLF is leading the first city-wide capital campaign to raise the remaining $500,000 and to involve citizens who love the library in its new home. There will be opportunities to contribute by naming an engraved paver on the terrace, a leaf on the Medford Family Tree or a solar panel. In addition, promotions will be run to help local businesses who are assisting the new library. Those interested in making a gift can learn more at https://www.medfordpubliclibraryfoundation.org/donate.

"We are honored and grateful to Mr. Bloomberg and Bloomberg Philanthropies for their support of this important project, which will provide incredible new opportunities and resources for the Medford community," Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn said in a statement. "The new library building will serve all of Medford's residents, providing cutting edge technology and access to resources for generations to come."