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)
Located on the library’s upper floor in our antique card catalog, the Seed Library offers a variety of herb, flower, and vegetable seeds for Grafton residents and members of our community. Choose up to five packets every time you visit—each packet has a handful of seeds ready to plant and start growing!
The Grafton Public Library is a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified building. Our goal is to promote a healthy and eco-friendly environment, and the Seed Library is part of this effort. That is why we feature plants that thrive in our local area, particularly native, heirloom, and organic seeds. We also hope to promote healthy diets and fight food scarcity by offering a wide range of tasty vegetables for your garden!
For 2026, all flowers identified as “Native Plants” were confirmed through Native Plant Finder; visit that site to learn more about these wildflowers and the butterflies they attract!
For gardening resources, please visit our nonfiction collection, call number 635, for books about horticulture. You can also borrow garden tools from our Library of Things.
For Seed Library questions, or to donate seeds, please contact Sarah Leveille at leveilles@graftonlibrary.org. We are especially interested in flowers and herbs!
Update:
The Seed Library is returning March 18 2026!
Eager to get started? You can pick up cherry tomato seeds now! Plant them indoors between March 3 and 25, then transplant them outdoors after the last frost (May 13-20). These mini tomato seeds were collected, packaged, and donated by the students of Rosemary Kennedy School of Wantagh, NY.
Donating Organizations
Grafton Public Library would like to thank the following organizations for their support and generosity through the years:
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.
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.
The Grafton Public Library supports the following Book Discussion Groups. Please email graftonlibrary.ma@gmail.com or call 508-839-4649 x1840 for more information! To register for a Library Book Discussion Group, visit our calendar.
“Reads Well With Others” Adult Book Discussion
Ages: 18+
meets: last Monday of the month (usually)
facilitator: Heidi Fowler
January pick: Mornings in Jenin, by Susan Abulhawa.
February pick: Symphony of Secrets, by Brendan Slocumb.
March pick: After Oz, by Gordon McAlpine.
April pick: Life and Other Inconveniences, by Kristan Higgins.
“Not Just for Young Adults” Book Group
Ages: 18+
meets: 2nd Tuesday of each month (usually)
location: Grafton Public Library
facilitator: Heidi Fowler
January pick: Wintersong, by S. Jae-Jones.
February pick: If You, Then Me, by Yvonne Woon.
March pick: Spin the Dawn, by Elizabeth Lim.
April pick: The Nature of Witches, by Rachel Griffin.
GPL Mystery Book Group
Ages: 18+
meets: 3rd Tuesday of the month
location: Grafton Public Library
facilitator: Heidi Fowler
January pick: Cahokia Jazz, by Francis Spufford.
February pick: A Flicker in the Dark, by Stacy Willingham.
March pick: Plugged, by Eoin Colfer.
April pick: Watcher in the Woods, by Kelley Armstrong.
