The main Wellesley Free Library building will be closed from the end of April until early September for renovations designed to modernize the facility with a more dynamic and interactive space for kids, more space for meetings, and even an area where you’ll be allowed to eat or drink.
In anticipation of the main library building temporarily closing, the Fells and Wellesley Hills branches will reopen in mid-April to provide express browsing, holds pickups, and materials returns, with extended hours offered, according to Cara Rothman, assistant director of the library. Reference and circulation assistance will be provided, too.
“New and popular titles will be moved from the main library and brought to the branches, and as new materials are processed they will be available through the branches,” Rothman says. “We will also receive deliveries at the branches from other Minuteman libraries to fulfill patrons requests.”
Virtual programs, technology training, ESL classes and reference assistance will continue to be available throughout the closure.
During the mail library shutdown, note that interlibrary loans outside of the Minuteman Library Network will be suspended. Also, the Library of Things will go into storage on March 15 and resurface in the fall.
When the main library reopens you can expect to see a transformed Children’s and Youth Room that welcomes more exploratory play. The current Media Room on the first floor will become The Commons, with seating, and large meeting rooms to provide a space for eating and drinking (the media collection of movies and music will be relocated to the second floor. The Periodical Room will share space with the Large Print collection. The second floor will gain more meeting rooms, seating and study areas, and the adult collection is being shifted to accommodate these changes.
I understand that the roof is being re-surfaced also – but sadly the plans do not include solar panels – for which there would be plenty of space. What a missed opportunity! Given that the Town Meeting passed a resolution last October that mitigating climate change would be top of the list of considerations in all new town developments. Apparently there is now “not enough money” to add solar panels. I hope that the town will rectify this disappointing oversight at the earliest opportunity. Reducing the town’s carbon footprint should always be a priority!
I hope the new modifications in the library take into account the new COVID world…. Ummmm, providing large rooms for eating & drinking????
So are all the employees that we have come to find invaluable going to be relocated?? Ie paid? I hope so. We cannot lose Sue Hannilos(sp?), Meghan Flynn, Tyson Bolles, and a few more I cannot think of their names at the moment.
Jamie, We applaud all the fantastic improvements youve done in the past 4+years, AND THE GREAT REMOTE RESPONSE to COVID, and more than that, I am overwhelming impressed by your employees, especially those mentioned above.
If they havent jobs during this period, Im sure the schools, the COA, Historical Society and the other 2 branches or other towns can use them. We CANNOT LOSE THEM!
We’d like to know if they are gonna be kept on payroll or this will be an unpaid Furlough or such. Pay them from some of those overinflated WPD salaries.
thanks.
4th generation Sweller & Appreciator of those who actually WORK!
DeBrat,,a friend of the “Keepers of the Keys to the Universe”