Residents, officials and guests from across Rhode Island celebrated the official start of work Monday at the new location for the #MiddletownRI Public Library. Check out what was said about the project and its sweeping benefits for our community.
OFFICIAL START OF WORK AT NEW LIBRARY CELEBRATED
MIDDLETOWN, RI (OCTOBER 27, 2025) – Work has officially started on the new Middletown Public Library.
During a well-attended and upbeat ceremony Monday morning, residents, officials and guests gathered inside 110 Enterprise Center behind Town Hall for a wall breaking ceremony.
The event marked the official start of a project to transform the former light industrial space into a modern, open, airy library to be enjoyed and used by all segments of the community.
Opening the ceremony, library Director Kimberly Usselman said there were plenty of people to thank.
Most importantly, she applauded the strong support within the community for the project, saying she and the rest of the library staff and volunteers were honored to be part of the effort.
She also had praise for the Town Council, Library Board of Trustees, Library Building Committee and others working so hard to make the proposal a reality.
Working with project managers Downes Construction of Warwick has been an outstanding experience along with Ahlborg Construction Corp. of Warwick as construction managers and Oudens Ello Architecture of Boston, Usselman said.
She thanked library building specialist Lauren Stara for her guidance, patience and an understanding of what Middletown needs and wants from its new library. Karen Mellor, Chief of Library and Information Services at Rhode Island's Office of Library Services (OLIS), was credited too.
Usselman also paused to give praise to the staff and volunteers at the library, who continue to work hard in the existing facility, providing service and expertise under less than ideal conditions at 700 West Main Road.
“It’s truly an honor to welcome you to this wall breaking ceremony,” Usselman said. “Today marks the next chapter in our project that’s been years in the making, one that will give our community the modern, welcoming library it deserves.”
Next, Town Administrator Shawn J. Brown said Middletown’s roots with public libraries dating back to 1875 remain strong today. He thanked Embrace Home Loan for selling the property to Middletown and being such a strong partner every step of the way.
“As a lifelong resident, this project holds special meaning for me because it’s not just about a new library, it’s about investing in the future of the community that raised me,” Brown said. “Today’s demolition ceremony marks a moment of renewal. We’re not here to look back what once stood, but to look ahead to future of Middletown’s public library built on nearly 150 years of commitment to learning, opportunity and access for all.”
In town from Washington, DC, Congressman Gabe Amo had kind words for Middletown’s wisdom and foresight to invest in its library. As a youngster growing up in Pawtucket, Amo remembered spending much time at his nearby library, learning about the world around him and life along the way.
“I am so grateful that this is a community effort, that people from across this great town are invested in this project,” Amo said. “This is an important project. I truly believe libraries encapsulate possibility.”
State Rep. Alex Finkelman said based on what he was seeing from Middletown, the community was doing things right and moving the ball down the field. Finkelman’s colleagues State Rep. Terri-Denise Cortvriend and State Sen. Louis P. DiPalma were also in attendance.
“Leadership matters,” Finkelman said. “When we were able to pivot from our original idea and move into what I consider a beautiful building — and which will be more beautiful when the construction work is done — it was brilliant. We saved money, we looked out for the citizens of Middletown and it’s going to be a project that’s beyond what we originally planned.”
“Often people will ask in this day and age, with Google, with information everywhere, what is the role of the library? Aren’t libraries dying?” Mellor of OLIS added. “The answer is ‘No!’ They are more important today than they have ever been to our communities. In an age that is becoming increasingly more polarized, where misinformation abounds, the library is the true resource that can provide that guidance for people of all ages to information that’s accurate and can help them with their life needs."
Council President Paul M. Rodrigues spoke about how the new location for the library and how the project came together at 110 Enterprise Center. How the Town Council, local leaders, the library board and others spurred momentum behind the new location, a move that came together quickly.
“Things start as simple conversations when you’re trying to move a community forward and trying to save those dollars and do the right thing,” Rodrigues said.
The Town Council announced the purchase of 110 Enterprise Center to much excitement in early October 2024.
The building and site itself have earned rave reviews from local leaders, the Library Board of Trustees and many members of the community.
Visitors have praised the quiet, visually appealing location, one that creates all sorts of new and exciting possibilities not possible on the busy West Main Road.
On the inside, many have praised the open and airy space as a blank slate for the new facility, with plenty of room for a dedicated children’s wing, reference desk, computer center, finance offices and additional amenities.
Another selling point was that the project wasn’t going to add one cent to the town’s tax rate. That’s because the work was being paid for using a mix of money from the town’s emergency services agreement for the Coddington Cove and Greene Lane neighborhoods as well as old debt rolling off the town’s books.
The Library Building Committee has been meeting regularly to review every aspect of the plans to renovate the 29,978-square-foot single story structure.
The need for a new library has been well documented for years, with the concrete floor of the current location buckling in several locations due to the weight of the book stacks. The building — originally designed for a Navy daycare facility — has also come under fire for poor air handling systems, cramped and limited spaces, a failing exterior and more.
For more information about the project, visit https://mdl.town/LBC and https://mdl.town/LibraryBuildingCommittee online.
Document Link: https://mdl.town/NYCU-Wall
About Middletown
The Town of Middletown is a vibrant municipality located on Aquidneck Island, known for its scenic beauty, historic landmarks, diverse economy and strong sense of community. For more information about all we have to offer, visit MiddletownRI.gov online.
Media Contact
Matt Sheley
Public Affairs Officer
401-842-6543
msheley@middletownri.gov