We have been so happy to see so many familiar faces over the last two weeks. Operating hours remain Mon-Thu, 10am-9pm; Fri & Sat, 10am-6pm; please return materials 24/7 via the outdoor book return, or during operating hours – no fines will be charged!
Don’t forget to shop the Friends Book Sale (and Bread Guy Pop-up!) from 10am-3pm Saturday Nov 6, 2021. Proceeds benefit the Library and help to fund museum passes, summer programs, and more.
A number of service updates follow:
STAFFING - We filled our Children’s Room vacancy, and hired three temps. Please join us in welcoming Stacie (Children’s), Erin (Teen), Brianna (Teen) and Kate (Reference). We are struggling to complete off desk work and cover meal breaks with our current staff level and thank you for your patience.
PHONES - We are having trouble reconciling the new system with the old and cannot accept any direct incoming calls. Please leave a message and we will call back during operating hours.
MUSEUM PASSES - Museum passes are available, but many venues have limits or restrictions. Please visit graftonlibrary.org/reserve/museumpasses/ for up-to-date information on procedures for each individual attraction and check the museum’s website as you plan your visit.
PUBLIC COMPUTERS - Computers are available for children (4), teens (3) and adults (4); additional laptops are still being set up. Printing may not be available. Faxing is not available. Advance reservations are not accepted. There is a 30-minute time limit when others are waiting. Please sign in to use library computers. Using the Library’s Wi-Fi network or computers constitutes agreement with and adherence to our Internet Use Policy.
MEETING ROOMS - Meeting Room bookings are LIVE as of Nov 1, 2021. Two seat tutor rooms (117, 124, 125) as well as the 4-seat group study room (202) will be available from opening until 15 minutes before closing. NO meeting rooms are available for Friday night, Saturday night or Sunday use at this time. Group study rooms 228 & 229 still have items stored in them. The 10-seat conference room (219) is booked for the month for aspiring writers for NaNoWriMo (Come Write In!). The Community Room has been booked for a variety of Library events including programs, the Friends Book Sale, and International Gaming Week. Please visit graftonlibrary.org/reserve/meeting/ to review our meeting room policies and request a space.
KEYING & SECURITY - Our elevator has been keyed and we are one step closer to offering after-hours meeting room use. We do not have an ETA for the gate to close off the stairwell. Security training has been scheduled for Mon 11/8 from 8:30-10 for all staff. At that time, we will be able to program our door locks and make the automatic door opener operable.
LANDSCAPING - Pavers are in and the teen patio is under construction. The entrance on Grafton Common will remain closed until this phase of the project is complete.
STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION - The Grafton Public Library’s construction team continues to make progress on ADA compliance and punch list items. Last week, subcontractors worked on the staircase, shower, replacement of historic windows, and repositioning toilet accessories. Subcontractors may be on site during your visit – please obey all posted signage and staff directives. We apologize in advance for any noise generated by the contracted work. Patrons who need use of a counter or sink that is not within ADA compliance should ask for accommodations and we will be happy to direct you to a table, or a compliant sink / hand sanitizer as needed. Signage and commissioning for various systems are still in process.
POLICIES
With the half-day last week, we had a number of children under the age of 13 who opted to return home when advised of the Board of Library Trustee’s Unattended Child Policy, developed with support from the Grafton Police Department and Town legal counsel. As a reminder, for everyone’s safety, children ages 0-7 must have a parent/guardian in vicinity; children ages 8-12 must have a parent/ guardian in the building, and children ages 13+ may be at the Library unattended. Exceptions may be made for children attending scheduled library programs. We thank parents and guardians for their cooperation. The Board of Trustees has updated a number of policies; a printed copy may be requested at any service desk, and they are posted online at https://graftonlibrary.org/home/policies.
We appreciate your patience as we continue to work through issues in our beautiful new building! Please direct comments, concerns, and complaints to Beth Gallaway, Library Director - [email protected] or 508-839-4649.
This project is partially funded by a state grant administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.
Beth Gallaway,
Library Director
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We are open to the public!
Check out construction photos in albums on our Facebook Page:
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Upcoming Library Planning & Building
Committee Meetings
Library Planning and Building Committee
Monday, November 1, 2021 6 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada);
In person in Community Room A/B or Join the Zoom Meeting:
Library Planning and Building Committee
Monday, December 4, 2021 6 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada);
In person in Community Room A/B or Join the Zoom Meeting:
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Come Write In!
Need a place to compose your Great American Novel? Come write in our new conference room, in solitude/solidary with fellow NaNoWriMo-ers! Coffee provided.
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to creative writing. Every November, writers around the world work to write 50,000 words of a novel in 30 days. Valuing enthusiasm, determination, and a deadline, NaNoWriMo is for anyone who has ever thought about writing a novel.
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Winner of the National Book Award in Fiction, New York Times Notable Books - Fiction and Poetry 2014 and the W.Y. Boyd LIterary Award
Redeployment
by Phil Klay
The book comprises twelve stories that chronicle the experiences of soldiers and veterans who served during the Iraq War, specifically Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003 – 2010). Klay served in the United States Marine Corps from 2005 to 2009.[1] He was deployed to the Anbar Province in 2007–2008.[2]
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In his own words, Phil says, “Each person has such a small piece of the war, and that piece will be powerfully shaped not only by when they were there and where in Iraq they were, but also by what job they did. So rather than writing a unified novel about the experience of war, I wanted twelve different voices—voices that would approach similar themes but from very different perspectives. I don't think all my narrators would get along with each other. I don't think they'd agree with each other about what the war meant. And part of my intent was that that would open a space for the reader to come in and critically engage with the sorts of claims the narrators are making.... “
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Get a preview of how to return items through the Automated Materials Handler (AMH) at https://bit.ly/gpl-amh before you visit! Note the AMH works the same way from outside the building or inside the lobby. Please, no rubber bands or loose papers or non-library materials – they will jam the machine. If an item won't fit, return it during operating hours. |
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Last month we featured CW MARS (Central Western Massachusetts Area Resource Sharing), a diverse multi-type library consortium made up of over 100 member libraries primarily located in Central and Western Massachusetts.
This month we feature two more library organizations in Massachusetts, MBLC and MLS.
MBLC (Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners) is state-funded and provides a statutory role to support, improve and promote library services including:
- Commonwealth Catalog
- State Aid & ARIS
- Public Library Construction Program
- LSTA & CARES Act grant support
- Preservation
- Librarian Certification - BLT (Basic Library Techniques) program
MLS (Massachusetts Library System) is funded through the MBLC to provide direct services to libraries including:
- Delivery
- Statewide professional development
- Statewide training & consulting
- Mediated ILL
- Cooperative purchasing
- Summer Reading
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Beanstack is a great way to track your reading and participate in fun reading challenges. As of September 1 there are new challenges available. To learn more or register, please visit graftonlibrary.org/beanstack. |
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Military and Intelligence |
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U.S.S. Constitution Museum |
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The USS Constitution Museum serves as the memory and educational voice of USS Constitution by collecting, preserving, and interpreting the stories of “Old Ironsides” and those associated with her. The museum seeks to engage all ages in the story of Constitution to spark excitement about maritime culture, naval service, and the American experience. They will share “Old Ironsides” contributions with a global audience, and they will strive to be the best museum possible based on scholarship and innovative ways of sharing Constitution‘s stories. Visit their website and reserve a museum pass with us online.
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See all of our upcoming LIVE and PASSIVE PROGRAM events, including Children & Teens: |
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See what is
happening
around town:
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Monday, Nov 1
10 AM - 9 PM
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Saturday, Nov 6
10 AM - 3 PM
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Not Just for Young Adults Book Group |
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Virtual Owl on a Branch Painting Class for Adults |
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Book Discussion:
Daytimers' Book Group
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Virtual Author Visit:
Richard Rothstein
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Book Discussion: GPL Mystery Book Group |
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Book Discussion: Reads Well With Others Book Group |
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Book Discussion: Inspirational Book Group |
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Sign up for individual newsletters and stay up to date with the latest news, events, items and more!
Teen - for grades 6-12 and their caregivers
Children for ages 0-grade 5 and their caregivers
Wowbrary - weekly new releases of library materials in digital and physical formats.
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FRIENDS OF THE
GRAFTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
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Board Meetings via Zoom are announced on Facebook:
Join the Friends for their monthly Board Meeting!
Tuesday, November 16 @ 7:30 PM
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Have recommendations of ebooks the Library should purchase?
Need reference, research, reader's advisory or information and referral help?
Have questions?
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