NEWS RELEASE

On December 17, the Grafton Public Library celebrated the opening of the new library addition and renovation of the 1927 original Georgian building. “A library is what people can do when they pull together,” said Commissioner Karen Traub from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC), which awarded the $16 million project a Massachusetts Public Library Construction (MPLCP) grant totaling more than $7.4 million. “Not even a pandemic could stop this library. It’s a magical place where people come together to learn and grow,” she said.

Grafton residents were joined by local, state, and federal officials to tour renovated building and the new addition which added more than 22,000 square feet and created dedicated space for children with room for playing, reading and crafting. Teens also have their own area with computers and comfortable seating. “You can tell a lot about what a community values by the library it has,” said U.S Representative Jim McGovern. “In Grafton you value knowledge. You value community.”

The new addition also boasts a large community room which can be used after hours. There are quiet study rooms and a climate-controlled area for historic collections. Outdoor patio space, which became important for programming during the pandemic, is accessible through both the community room and the children’s room. Designed with sustainability and innovation in mind, the library is built to meet the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and will receive additional funding from the MBLC’s Green Library Incentive when LEED certification is attained. (photos from the event)

Grafton Public Director Beth Galloway, called a “library hero”, credits the success of the project to the tremendous support from the community, to the library staff, to local officials, and to MBLC’s Library Building Specialists. The new library opened to the public in October and has experienced record usage. In one month, 186 new library cards were issued and over 10,000 items were borrowed.

The MPLCP was first funded by a state bond authorization in 1987. Since then, it has helped more than 250 communities plan, build, renovate and/or expand their public libraries. The program was recently recognized by Governor Baker with a Leading by Example award. MPLCP projects are currently underway in the following communities: Amherst, Greenfield, Marlborough, Medford, Melrose, Sharon, and Sherborn. Projects in Erving, Hadley, Littleton, Norwell, and Roxbury were recently completed. Learn more about the program on the MBLC website and the Building Literacy podcast.