NAHANT — The Select Board voted Wednesday night to call a Special Town Meeting this fall, where voters will decide whether to approve a $1 million town contribution to support the restoration of the Nahant Public Library.

The $1 million would come from excess capital proceeds in a special account funded by the town’s sale of former Coast Guard housing lots.

If approved, the $1 million request would unlock a three-to-one match, leveraging $3 million in private money — including a $2 million anonymous challenge grant and $1 million in other donations — toward the library’s $4 million restoration.

The proposed project was presented jointly by Chair of the Library Board of Trustees Anne Whiston Spirn and Trustee Anne Bromer.

“These funds must be expended on capital funds. They cannot be used for town operating expenses, so this request has no impact on people’s taxes or on operating costs for the town,” said Whiston Spirn.

Before setting a date for the Special Town Meeting, town officials will work with the Library Trustees and Finance Committee to draft the warrant article and complete financial analysis, with the Finance Committee’s recommendation report mailed to Nahant households in advance.

Members of the Library Board of Trustees reported that the 131-year-old Library faces critical infrastructure failures — outdated electrical service, no sprinklers or modern fire detection, plumbing, HVAC issues, and significant interior deterioration — and outlined a $4 million restoration plan backed by a $2 million anonymous challenge grant and more than $500,000 already pledged in private donations. The library would also see a children’s room addition, allowing children’s services to move out of the grand historic room that was originally designed as the adult reading room. This would be entirely privately funded.

Whiston Spirn said the Trustees predict that they can raise a majority of the funds themselves and have secured a commitment from an anonymous donor for a match of $2 million to $4 million.

Whiston Spirn said the Library’s anonymous donor wants to see both a substantial financial commitment from the town and broad resident participation, “So that everyone in town feels a part of this renovation.”