Annual Report & Long Range Plan

Report of the Grafton Public Library — 2025

The Grafton Public Library provides residents of any age opportunities to find and use information in many formats as they pursue personal growth and education throughout their lives. It helps them develop their ability to find and evaluate information used daily and all lifelong. It provides materials and programs relevant to contemporary issues and interests that enlighten, inform, and entertain.

Core Services

In alignment with its mission, the library offers a wide range of features and services:

• Loaning books, movies, video games, audiobooks, music CDs, and a "Library of Things" which includes kits, games, instruments, tools, puzzles, and more.
• Holds service which allows residents to borrow items from other libraries throughout the state. Items are delivered to the library for convenient checkout and return.
• Downloadable eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, and videos accessible 24/7 from most mobile devices.
• Free and discounted passes to 20 area attractions.
• Entertaining and educational programs for residents of all ages.
• Online access to 66 databases, including Ancestry Library Edition, ComicsPLUS, Transparent Language, Tutor.com, and Pronunciator.
• Engaging story times and early literacy programs for young children.
• Public computer use, high speed internet, printing, faxing, and copying services.
• Several meeting and study room spaces available for use by residents.

Challenges & Accomplishments

This year brought significant challenges for the library, most notably the departure of our director, Tom O'Connell, in July. Our new building continued to "settle," with recurring issues related to HVAC, gutters, sprinkler systems and water filtration. The Trustees and library leadership have worked diligently with contractors and Town administration to address these concerns and ensure the facility remains safe and welcoming.

Despite these obstacles, the library served Grafton residents with enthusiasm and creativity! In June, we celebrated the birthday of library founder Jerome Wheelock with a grand re-opening of the children's room, which had been closed for several months due to a catastrophic flood. The event featured face painting, a musical performance by Mr. Kim of Appletree Arts, bounce houses, and more — drawing an incredible 720 attendees!

Our brand new Pen Pal Program connected over 200 participants across Graftons in Massachusetts, Ohio, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. Participants exchanged letters through the library, fostering new friendships and strengthening community ties. Library staff managed all incoming and outgoing mail, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

Partnerships with community organizations provided engaging events and services to residents. Some of these include:

• The Friends of the Grafton Public Library funded our museum pass program and sponsored several popular events including the perennial favorite Spring Egg Hunt.
• The YMCA Family and Community Partnership offered a grant-funded intermittent workshop for preschool children and their caregivers called Young Scientists.
• The Grafton Cultural Council funded a wildly popular program during April vacation week called The Poop Museum, where families learned (and laughed) a lot with Susie the poop expert.

Personnel Changes

Library Director Tom O'Connell resigned in July. Kim Lipinski, the Department Assistant, left her position in October. The library welcomed Katrina Ireland-Bilodeau as its new permanent library director in November.

Statistics at a Glance

Return on Investment

Using a library-specific tool developed by the Massachusetts Library Association and adapted for online use by the Maine State Library Association, the return on investment (ROI) for the materials and services offered by the Grafton Public Library for the 2025 calendar year is 373%.

Grafton Residents Are Saying…

"Thank you so much for calling me about the fax to let me know that it went through. I hugely appreciated that and your great kindness to me throughout this whole process."

"My child is excited about reading because of Book Club! Thank you!"

Two teenage siblings who first came in for snacks on Tasting Tuesday now regularly borrow books, thanks to encouragement from the library staff.

"My child enjoys having a place to draw and talk with other kids who enjoy graphic novels as much they do!"

"I asked on Facebook for advice finding my lost hearing aids and they said to go to the library. My sister uses the library all the time and she said I should check out the metal detector too!"

"There's always so much to do when we come to the library! My kids always want to do the scavenger hunt, they love getting a coin for a prize and we always have so many fun programs to choose from."

"I'm job hunting, which is a pretty stressful thing. But I like coming here to work on it. It's less distracting."

"You have the best magazine collection around. I think it often and feel every once in a while, I should say it."

A parent shared that her children used to come only for the scavenger hunt, then wanted video games, and now look for books — and she is so happy about it!

A once-reluctant freshman reader — encouraged by her mom, a GPS elementary teacher — has rediscovered her love of books. After support from the teen department staff, she devoured three books in just two weeks and is already back for more.

"I love what this library has done for my 4-year-old! She has learned so much from coming here. You're the best!"

Expenses in Excess of $2,500

"We call this library the magical library because everything here is just…well…magic."

Respectfully Submitted,
Katrina Ireland-Bilodeau
Library Director

Long Range Plan

The library will complete our next Strategic Plan over the course of 2026 and post it here upon its completion. If you are interested in being a part of the Strategic Planning Committee, please email the director at bilodeauk@graftonlibrary.org.