CHILDREN’S ROOM UPDATE
The Children’s Room has unfortunately been closed since last August, after a summer storm flooded and damaged portions of the Children’s Room, Children’s Workroom (where the staff offices are located), and the entirety of the Children’s Program Room. The community meeting room was also flooded.
Construction was completed to repair the damaged sections of walls and flooring of the Children’s Room and the Community Room, and the Community Room was reopened and repurposed as a play space for children. The Friends of the Library section is being used by the Children’s Room department as a temporary, limited children’s circulation space.
The carpet installation in the Children’s Room was not completed properly or safely, and the results necessitated a complete replacement of the carpet. The Board of Library Trustees voted to replace the carpet to ensure the safety of the public and the longevity of the flooring.
At first, it was thought that a partial replacement of the carpet would be possible. However, due to poor installation efforts, it was not a safe option. The carpet tiles did not adhere to the floor correctly and began to peel up. This caused the adhesive solution to disperse; for this reason, the carpet tiles were not able to be reused. It was after this discovery that the decision was made to replace the entire floor.
At this time, the Town Administrator’s office estimates that the replacement work may not be completed until the end of the summer.
We sincerely apologize for the ongoing delays, which have caused disruption and discomfort to library patrons, especially our youngest ones. We are sincerely sorry that the remediation, construction, and replacement of the Children’s Room rug has taken so long.
Children’s activities will continue throughout the summer months with the staff using the Community Room, Children’s Program Room, and the Friends of the Library’s space right off the lobby. A variety of programs will be offered off-site at local parks and the Willard House & Clock Museum as well.
Please address any questions or concerns to the Town Administrator’s office or the Board of Library Trustees at trustees@graftonlibrary.org
Comedy of errors beginning with a parking lot that seemed to drain into the new library.