GRAFTON - The Grafton Public Library hosted a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony on Friday, December 17. The general public was invited for speeches, tours, and a goodie bag. 

Guest speaker included Doug Bowman, Library Planning and Building Committee; State Senator Michael Moore; State Representative David Muradian; Karen Traub, Commissioner; Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners; Evan Brassard, Town Administrator; Peter Carlson, Chair; Select Board; Dana Wilson, Capital Campaign; Aaron Vandesteen, Chair; Board of Library Trustees; Beth Gallaway, Library Director.

The $16.6 million dollar renovation project, partially funded with a grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, expanded the Library’s 94-year-old, 7,200 square foot building to a nearly 26,000 square foot facility with program space and outdoor patios for adults, children and teens; a divisible community meeting room and private tutor and group study rooms; a climate controlled historical archive; a state of art materials checkout and returns system; and the preservation of the Historic Reading Room and Friends ongoing book sale. Library parking tripled, and 4 electric vehicle charging stations are available. Signage, HVAC, lighting, phones, Wi-Fi, fire suppression, intrusion alarms, security cameras and other systems are up to code, and the building is ADA compliant. The Library is in process of completing a LEED certification and hopes to achieve a Silver rating.

The building was designed by Kenneth Best, principal architect, Drummey Rosane Anderson, Inc. The project was managed by Mark Sullivan, DA Sullivan & Sons, Inc. while Clerk of the Works Andy Deschenes provided oversight and daily reports. The general contractor CTA Construction Managers executed the project. The Capital Campaign brought in significant community donations to implement naming of rooms and spaces, as well as out of scope projects such as landscaping and a green roof. The Library Planning and Building Committee kept the project on budget, the Historic District Commission provided oversight and signoff on various elements, the Building Department kept the permitting process smooth, Planning Board and Conservation Commission aided with land use and transfers, environmental issues and wetlands protection, and the Finance Committee, Select Board, Friends of the Grafton Public Library and Board of Library Trustees provided financial and moral support. This truly was a community effort and we thank everyone for their support and contributions.