Letter to the Editor: Library Expansion Makes Sense

The is in dire need of renovation, expansion and modernization.

The existing library in the Grafton town center was built in 1927 to serve the population at that time which was only 6,000 residents. Grafton now has almost 18,000 residents, and our population is projected to grow to 22,250 by 2030. The existing building is too small and is in very poor condition. 

The library is not ADA compliant/handicap accessible and there are other safety issues. If we do not address the ADA compliance issue soon, we are subject to daily fines in the thousands. ADA compliance involves more than simple ramp access to the building. 

For example, the interior space must be large enough to allow a person in a wheelchair access throughout. To address these issues without increasing the size of the current library would cause us to lose already limited library space.

       The heating and air conditioning system is ancient and inefficient. 

• Individual work spaces for library patrons and staff are severely limited. There are no designated private meeting spaces for groups and no designated teen area.  
• The children’s room in the basement is very small and does not have a designated toddler area.

 The Grafton Public Library applied for and was awarded a $5,080,350 state grant by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. Many other communities competed for these funds. We were extremely lucky to be one of only eigth communities awarded a grant in the latest round of funding; our grant award was the second largest.  

The application was based on the plan to expand the library from its current size of 8,000 sq. feet to 29,000 sq. feet, determined based upon a state formula which took into consideration the size of our town.

The total projected cost of the library renovation and expansion is $11,700,000.  The town’s share is estimated to cost $6,700,000, which breaks down to an annual average of $79 per household (based on average home value of $329,000) or 24 cents per thousand of the assessed value of a Grafton home. The debt service will not start until 2014; around that the same time our other debt service is scheduled to start to drop off. 

If the vote does not pass on Tuesday, Dec. 13, we will have to refuse the MBLC grant and will lose committed private donations, currently estimated at $800,000. We will then have to start over to devise a new plan to address the numerous issues with the library without the benefit of the MBLC funding.  

If we then decide to roughly double the size of the existing library to 14,000 square feet, it is estimated that it will cost use $5.8 million which we would have to pay without the benefit of the MBLC state grant or the anticipated $800,000 in private donations.

Our world is changing at an unprecedented rate in human history. We need a 21^st century library to foster 21^st century skills including life-long learning, collaboration and information literacy.

Please invest in the library and our Grafton community. Please vote yes for the Grafton Public Library on Tuesday, Dec. 13.

Carrie and Dean Hogan