'Extensive' Repairs Begin on Main Framingham Library

On an early Saturday morning in mid-October, two men were seriously injured when an “electrical explosion” happened in the basement of the main Framingham Library on Lexington Street

One of the contractors from Ameresco, suffered second and third degree burns over 26 percent of his body. The other contractor sffered second degree burns. The two were doing work to make the library more energy efficient before the library opened.

The library suffered almost a $1 million in damage and was closed for the rest of 2015 and is still closed.

Framingham Town Manager Bob Halpin said Tuesday night to Selectmen “steps are being taken to clean any soot or residue of the electrical fire that remains within the building.”

After several federal, state, and insurance investigations, “electrical repair work has begun” on the main Framingham Library, explained Halpin.

“The replacement main switch, which is a special order, is being manufactured and has a ship date of Jan. 7,” said Halpin.

“This is a very extensive repair project and we appreciate the patience of the public as we work with the Library staff to bring this valuable town resource back online,” said Halpin.

Library Director Mark Contois has had to make lots of adjustments with the main library at 49 Lexington Street closed since late October.

The McAuliffe branch in Saxonville has added hours, including Sundays; and a pop-up library has opened in the former St. Stephen’s School in downtown Framingham.

Programming has also had to be re-located.

Concerts have been held at the senior center, events at the Memorial Building, and the library’s Homework Center is operating out of the Boys & Girls Club of MetroWest on Pearl Street.

Contois said when the new McAuliffe Library under construction opens - slated for early 2016 - programming that was at the main library may move to that Water Street library in the Nobscot section of town, until the main Library re-opens.

A soft opening of the new McAuliffe Library branch is expected possibly as soon as the end of this month, with a grand opening celebration planned for the spring of 2016.

As of the end of November, the new library branch, named for Christa Corrigan McAuliffe - the first teacher in space, was on time and on budget. January 28, 2016, will be the 30th anniversary of McAuliffe’s death when the NASA space shuttle Challenger exploded.