A horde of incorrigible monsters have invaded the teen space of the Grafton Public Swamp, formerly the Grafton Public Library. These ravenous creatures appear every day between the hours of 2pm-7pm, leaving behind devastation and burst eardrums in their wake.
“They travel in big groups,” said community member Ida Agitata. “They take over the entire first floor. It’s so loud, you can’t hear yourself think!”
Indeed, the guttural sounds of these swamp creatures can be quite loud to those not used to their voices. They often jump on top of one another, wrestling to show their dominance.
What can we learn from these swamp creatures, as different as they are from the more traditional swamp inhabitant?
Researchers found a plethora of research whilst cleaning out the trash cans in the Teen Game room.
“It seems they are partial to Bubble Tea,” creature specialist Dr. Jilly Teacup noted. “They have Grubhub deliver several times each afternoon.”
The Grafton Public Swamp staff has grown fond of these majestic beasts, and love when they come to visit. They do wish they would clean up after themselves more.
While it’s true that every new construction project has its share of problems, town officials could never have anticipated what would happen to the newly renovated and expanded Grafton Public Library.
The nearly 26,000 square foot facility is sinking into a swamp.
The Swampening, as staff are calling it, has drastically changed the facility. Bordered by extensive wetlands, environmental creep has always been a concern. But the acceleration at which the environment is taking over the building has been voracious. First, the non-fiction stacks seemed uneven. Then floor tiles started to dip. There was a constant sound of water dripping. The drip became a deluge. Staff were plagued by gnats and mosquitos. A UPS truck became submerged in mud.
Then the gators came.
Found throughout the library, these creatures, though small, menace patrons and staff alike by lurking in unusual places.
Tiny gators have infiltrated the Library. Can you find them all?
Is the Swampening a result of climate change, inadequate planning, or something more… paranormal?
Jerome Wheelock, Grafton Public Library’s first patron, is a local legend. Less famous was his brother Jebediah, an unsavory sort who relocated to the bayous of Louisiana in order to breed designer muskrats.
Jebediah Beyonce Wheelock, circa 1905
Jealous Jebediah was always bemoaning his brother’s success. When he learned of the library donation and the statue Grafton erected in Jerome’s image, Jebediah demanded that his adopted town of Baxlin Quag do the same. When they refused, Jebediah raged against his more successful sibling.
A missive between the brothers was found in 1989, hidden in the belongings of Ms. Cordelia Whittledower of 252 Old Farthington Lane.
“Yer library ain’t that special, Jerome.” wrote the younger man in a wild, unhinged script. “It ain’t no better than a….(expletive) (expletive)(expletive) (expletive) (expletive) (expletive) (expletive) swamp.”
Over a hundred years later, it seems Jebediah’s curse has come true.
Were officials warned about encroaching wetlands? Is the spirit of Jebediah Wheelock to blame? We may never know. Unable to stop nature from reclaiming what was once hers, residents and library officials have decided to just go with it. Thus, the Grafton Public Library has been rebranded.
It is now the Grafton Public Swamp.
The moisture-thick atmosphere and infestation of mosquitoes won’t stop GPS staff from serving their community. Sure, your favorite Elin Hilderbrand book may be a bit moist, but the community meeting room is now home to a darling family of frogs. Private study rooms are still available-except when it’s time for the weekly crawfish boil.
The former Library even announced a slew of new programs starting up this spring.
If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need. ~Marcus Tullius Cicero (d. 43BC)
As part of the fulfillment of our LEED certification, we are excited to nurture a community of gardeners by providing a seed collection and exchange through the Library! The 2024 seed library will launch in March 2024. We have a variety of seeds for herbs, flowers, and vegetables. The Seed Library is located in the Historic Reading Room in our antique card catalog. Each packet contains a few seeds and a link to growing instructions to start your own plants. Most seeds can be sown directly into your prepared soil.
NEW this year: Expanded selection of native plant seeds!
Check back often–we’ll be adding new seeds throughout the season!
For Seed Library questions, please contact Mary Murtland at murtlandm@graftonlibrary.org.
Our Goals
Provide free seeds to the community from seed companies and from gardeners who’ve saved seeds from plants that thrive in our local area.
Encourage the use of native, heirloom, open-pollinated, and organic seeds.
Encourage gardeners to save seed and donate seed back to the Seed Library from successful varieties of plants they have grown.
Educate our community on topics related to gardening, ecology, food and nutrition, health and wellness, and the environment.
Promote the importance of organic gardening for our health and the health of our planet.
Increase awareness of and mitigate food scarcity.
How the Seed Library Works
1. Choose a maximum of 2 free seed packets per visit
2. Follow the link on the back of the seed packet for growing instructions and plant the seeds in your garden.
3. Donate any leftover seeds back in the original packet.
4. Water, weed, and wait!
5. Harvest seeds from successful flowers and produce and thoroughly air dry them.
6. Label and return to the Seed Library so others can grow them next year (optional).
Quarantine Food Calculator
Enter the number of men, women and children in your family and it will calculate how much food you need for 2 weeks. Includes shopping tips and a meal plan.
Pandemic Toolkit
Repository of over 400 things to do, cook, watch, listen to, read, and be grateful for during this unique time compiled by listeners of the Death Sex & Money podcast.
D&D Beyond
Website/app intended to take care of all the fine print and number crunching, leaving dungeon masters and players free to focus on crafting a good story.
Includes classics, indies, film noir, documentaries and other films.
We Are One: A Global Film Festival
Showcase of feature films, shorts, documentaries, music, comedy, and panel discussions from May 29 to June 7, curated by the Berlin International Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, New York Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, Sydney Film Festival, Tokyo International Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, Venice Film Festival and more.
Smithsonian Associates Streaming
Individual programs, multi-part courses, studio arts classes, and virtual study tours inspired by the Smithsonian’s research, collections and exhibitions.
MA MOLST & CC/DNR Forms
The MOLST and CC/DNR forms are statewide standardized forms issued by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Patients and their health care providers can use these to document the results of discussions they have had about appropriate life-sustaining treatment.
