A Note from the Director

As we wind down our first year of occupancy in our newly renovated and expanded facility, I'd like to extend thanks and deepest gratitude to our staff and community for continued support of the Library--and supreme patience as we worked out kinks with new software, new hardware, new policies, new procedures, a new phone system, new security system, new HVAC, new booking software for meeting rooms, heck, new meeting rooms! We continue to get many compliments and constructive criticism and appreciate the feedback, always.

We hope to see you at Grafton Celebrates the Holidays on Sunday December 4! the Library will be open from 12-4pm for henna, seasonal crafts with Grafton RISE, stories with our staff, and Friends items for sale. We are pleased this year to host the Girl Scouts Gingerbread House contest and to provide a table for Central Mass Foster / Adopt MA initiative.

GUM Jam will sing and strum a selection of seasonal songs on Wed 12/14 - come sing even if you don't play ukulele (yet!). In addition to Knitting, Etc (did you know you can now bring your sewing, quilting, embroidery or cross-stitch projects?) we are offering two book-folding workshops for adults. Create something for yourself, or to give as a gift!

Our book groups are focusing on seasonal titles, as well; the Inspirational Book Group’s title, The Power of Moments, might be a welcome respite at the end of the year to reflect on experiences and impact. We also celebrate the life of Jane Austen, who would be turning 247 on December 16, with a special book list.

Please note that our Hoopla digital media service will be ending on December 31, 2022. Please visit https://www.galepages.com/mlin_c_graftpl/all for a complete list of alternative resources for digital media.

My very best wishes for a calm, meaningful and stress-free observance of your winter holidays, and wishing luck, peace and prosperity to all in 2023!

Beth Schreiber,

Library Director

FOR SCREEN READERS aerial view of Grafton Public Library and town

Expansion Update

Going into December we are still working out commissioning for the HVAC system and are awaiting a schedule for renovations to counter and sinks to bring them into ADA compliance. Thank you in advance for your patience this month if we have to shift around meeting room reservations or set you up on a laptop while the computer counters are out of order. LEED application will be finalized; our pilot projects are earning us some extra points. Watch for user satisfaction surveys in the new year.

The Library Planning and Building Committee is scheduled to meet on Monday December 5 at 6pm on Zoom:

Agenda

Zoom Link

Meeting ID: 879 5681 7665

Passcode: 087506

Check out construction photos in our Construction album on our Facebook Page!

Spotlight on Fiction

The Snow Child

By Eowyn Ivey

Here's a modern retelling of the Russian fairy tale about a girl, made from snow by a childless couple, who comes to life. Or perhaps not modern—the setting is 1920s Alaska—but that only proves the timelessness of the tale and of this lovely book. Unable to start a family, middle-aged Jack and Mabel have come to the wilderness to start over, leaving behind an easier life back east. Anxious that they won't outlast one wretched winter, they distract themselves by building a snow girl and wrap her in a scarf. The snow girl and the scarf are gone the next morning, but Jack spies a real child in the woods. Soon Jack and Mabel have

developed a tentative relationship with the free-spirited Faina, as she finally admits to being called. Is she indeed a "snow fairy," a "wilderness pixie" magicked out of the cold? Or a wild child who knows better than anyone how to survive in the rugged north? Even as Faina embodies a natural order that cannot be tamed, the neighborly George and Esther show Jack and Mabel (and the rest of us) how important community is for survival. VERDICT A fluid, absorbing, beautifully executed debut novel; highly recommended.

— Barbara Hoffert, Library Journal

Request a book, a Large Print book, a CD-Audiobook, or an e-book on the Libby app.

Our December Display

The Borrower Services and Reference staff invite you to

check out an item from our two staircase displays in

Room 201 - Large Print/New Books.

Craft Items Wanted

Have you given up on scrapbooking? Discovered crocheting just isn’t for you? Don’t have enough time for crafts now that you have to go back into the office? Because arts and crafts aren’t just for kids, the Grafton Public Library is happily accepting donations of your adult craft items that are in like new or even brand new condition. This fall, we will be putting together adult craft kits to check out from our Library of Things as well as Take-And-Make craft kits for adults to get us through those long winter days indoors.

We are looking for the following supplies:

Painting–oil, acrylic, watercolor paints, brushes, canvas and watercolor paper, paint by number kits
Scrapbooking–unused scrapbooks, whole pieces of paper, fresh sheets of stickers, appliques, acid free glue and glue dots
Needle and yarn crafts–crochet hooks, knitting needles, round knitting looms, yarn, embroidery hoops, canvas, embroidery floss, embroidery needles, felting, macrame
Beadwork–beads, hooks, clasps, hardware and tools for jewelry
Baking and confectionary–new disposable pastry bags, tips, tools, candy molds
Sculpting and burning–clay and sculpting tools, wood burning kits and supplies
Candle making–packaged wax, wicks, scents
Miscellaneous supplies–glue guns, hot glue gun sticks, pinking shears to cut designs, art markers and pens, sketchbooks and pencils
Model building kits–cars, boats, airplanes
>>Please do not bring glitter<<

Please email Debby Jackson, Administrative Assistant, [email protected] with any questions and to coordinate drop off.

Featured Museum

Willard House & Clock Museum

TOURS ARE HELD ON A BY-APPOINTMENT BASIS.

Willard House & Clock Museum's guided tours are available at 10:30am and 2:00pm Thursday through Saturday. They are closed Sunday through Wednesday. Tours last approximately one hour (or more, depending on how many questions you have).

Reserve a museum pass online!