Grafton Library opening delayed until September

The Grafton Public Library is postponing its planned reopening on Monday, August 23 for a fairly simple reason: there aren’t enough shelves.

“We know how disappointing this is for the community, key stakeholders, and donors,” Library Director Beth Gallaway wrote in an update for library patrons. “Please know staff are doing everything in their power to be ready for opening day, we miss you, and thank you for your patience!”

Delays in raw materials, fabrication, and shipping, as well as COVID-19, weather, and other vendor issues, has left the library without phones, staff has not been trained on various systems. Landscaping is also incomplete.

“Without the remaining shelving, we cannot put away relocated items or finish shelving the collections,” she wrote. “…While there are several punch list items we can work around, we cannot plan workflow, or learn and practice systems that have not yet been implemented, nor can we open to the public if it is not safe to do so.”

Construction specialists from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners have also advised not opening until two weeks after everything is installed to allow library workers to acclimate to the new facility.

Gallaway said the library will open at a to-be-announced date in September. Patrons are asked to continue holding unreturned items at home.

The ribbon cutting ceremony planned for October 1 at 11 a.m. is still planned.

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