State Extends Library Grant

The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners has extended its grant for the project through June 30.

 But how much the grant will be for _ and whether it will be used by the town _ remains unknown, said Judith Meichelbeck, chairman of the Grafton Public Library Board of Library Trustees.

“There’s an awful lot that has to be answered,’’ she said. But the trustees sought an extension because “you don’t want to close all the doors.’’

Trustees met with the commissioners in Boston last week.

Grafton voters in December soundly defeated a proposed $11.7 million library expansion project. A state grant of $5.1 million was awarded in July toward the project.

A building committee was then formed to look at the future of the library. The library is not fully compliant with Americans for Disabilities Act regulations, which is one of the issues the committee will look at.

The make-up of the committee will be announced by Town Moderator Ray Mead. Selectman Brook Padgett and library trustee Douglas Bowman have been recommended by their respective boards.

The committee, and not the trustees, will determine the next steps for the library.

Another meeting with the commissioners is expected next month to discuss the grant extension in more detail, Meichelbeck said. More specifics, such as whether the original grant award will be reduced and any stipulations tied to the money, could be available then, she said.

Town resident Scott Browne attended the meeting with the commissioners and suggested that details of the town’s purchase of land surrounding the library could make extra state money available for the project.

The state appeared to take that into consideration, Meichelbeck said.