Wellesley Free Library’s main branch to reopen soon

October 18, 2021 by Deborah Brown 1 Comment

It’s been a long six months for the 1,000+ daily visitors who count on the Wellesley Free Library’s main branch as an essential community resource. The 530 Washington Street location has been closed for a $2.8 million dollar renovation since April 2021. Although the 2 branch libraries have been open, along with a Temporary Main Library in Wellesley Square (now permanently closed), the void has been felt by patrons.

library renovations sign — The main Wellesley Free Library will soon open its doors to patrons again.

Right now it’s looking like the reopening will happen in the beginning of November.

There was hope that the doors would open a little earlier. At the October 12th Select Board meeting, Megan Jop during the Executive Director’s Report said, “We received word from [Town of Wellesley Facilities Director] Joe McDonough that the library will be reopening on October 23rd…can’t wait to see how it’s going to look.”

Turns out a few more delays derailed that plan. Stay tuned for updates.

If you also can’t wait, take a look at our recent post, Sneak Peek: we storm the gates of the Wellesley Free Library.

WELLESLEY LIBRARIES—LOCATIONS & HOURS

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Sneak peek: we storm the gates of the Wellesley Free Library

October 10, 2021 by Deborah Brown 3 Comments

The Wellesley Main Library, closed since April 2021 for a $2.8 million renovation (the Wellesley Free Library Foundation kicked in 600k), is readying to reopen later this month. The unofficial town happy place has been sorely missed by the 1,000+ daily visitors who cross the threshold of the 56k sq. ft. building. Some come for the books, some to meet up for work or social reasons, others for a place to use a public computer, or study. We cut the line and popped in for a sneak peek of the 17-year old library’s improvements. Originally timed to reopen in September, the library’s welcome-back date was delayed due to a slowdown in materials deliveries. Well, the supply chain can rattle all it wants—patrons are all but banging down the doors to be allowed back into their community resource.

In the meantime, know that the Temporary Main Library at 50 Central Street in Wellesley Square is permanently closed.

The Main Library is expected to reopen in late October.

The Hills and Fells Branches will remain open for holds pick up and browsing. Expanded Branch hours will be in place throughout the month of October (see below for hours).

Here’s what the public is in for when the 530 Washington Street building makes its dramatic comeback:

Wellesley library renovation — View from the Cameron Street side of the building (back entrance). The Welcome Center (formerly known as the Circulation Desk) has been reoriented to face patrons as they enter the lobby. Self checkout stations will be set up against the blue wall, as will holds. The expanded lobby area has more room for books, popular materials, and browsing. Jewel colors have been used throughout the first floor, giving way to a sophisticated and calming color palette upstairs.

Wellesley Free Library renovation — A section of the Children’s Room. Overall, look for a larger and more open children’s area that will encourage learning through play. Most of the old furniture was donated. “They went as far away as the North Shore. Gloucester Schools came and took all the wooden chairs,” said WFL Director Jamie Jurgensen.

Thanks to WFL Director Jamie Jurgensen for the tour. She wouldn’t pose for a pic. Something about not being camera ready. No matter, we’ll get a nice over-the-shoulder red carpet shot when the grand opening takes place.

WELLESLEY LIBRARIES—LOCATIONS & HOURS

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Wellesley Temporary Main Library’s last day coming up

September 22, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley Library, temporary location — Temporary Main Library, 50 Central St.

The Temporary Main Library at 50 Central Street will be open for its last day on Monday, September 27, 9am-8pm. Patrons can still access materials and pick up their holds at the Hills and Fells Branches. When placing holds online, select Hills or Fells as the pick-up location. Patrons will receive notifications when materials are ready to pick up. Both the Hills and Fells Branches will remain open and operating full hours (see below). In addition, those hours will be expanded as of October 3rd.

The Main Library is anticipated to reopen in late October.

Closed since April for a $2.8+ million renovation, the Main Library’s reopening date was planned for September, but slowdowns due to supply chain issues bumped that anticipated opening by several weeks.

When the Main Library’s 1k daily visitors are welcomed back into the building they can expect to see an expanded lobby area with more room for books, popular materials, and browsing; a larger and more open children’s area that will encourage learning through play; a commons area on the first floor for patrons to meet up in a casual atmosphere; a second floor area with more tables and soft seating, as well as 7 new meeting rooms and spaces for quiet study. A new roof caps off the improvements for the 17-year old library, which has the 7th highest public library circulation numbers in the state.

Wellesley Free Library redesign sounds nice

WELLESLEY LIBRARIES—LOCATIONS & HOURS

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Daniel Tiger, Snow Sisters, and ice cream at Wellesley Hills library

August 17, 2021 by admin Leave a Comment

Come to the Wellesley Hills Branch Library, 210 Washington Street, for an Ice Cream Truck & Snow Sisters Cool-Down Party on Saturday, August, 21, 2pm-4pm.

2pm-4pm: Receive a frozen treat from Zack’s Ice Cream Truck—ice cream bars provided by the library, available as long as supplies last.

2pm-3pm: The Snow Sisters sing songs and say hello.

3pm-4pm: Daniel Tiger from the PBS series Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood arrives for greetings and photo ops.

The library Hills Branch will remain closed, but the parking lot will be an ice cream and song party.

No registration required. No audience capacity limit. No cost event

Email: [email protected] for any questions, including dietary restrictions

EVENT: Cool-Down party
DATE: Saturday, August 21, 2021
TIME: 2pm-4pm
LOCATION: Wellesley Hills Branch Library, 210 Washington Street
COST: Free

Wellesley Main Library reopening date shifts to just before the frost is on the pumpkin

WELLESLEY LIBRARIES, LOCATIONS & HOURS:

Wellesley Hills Branch Library: 210 Washington St., Wellesley, MA 02481

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10am – 8pm
Wednesday: 10am – 5pm
Thursday: 10am – 8pm
Friday: 10am – 5pm
Saturday: closed
Sunday: closed

Temporary Main Library: 50 Central St., Wellesley, MA 02482

Monday: 9am – 8pm
Tuesday: 9am – 8pm
Wednesday: 9am – 8pm
Thursday: 9am – 8pm
Friday: 9am – 6pm
Saturday: 9am – 5pm
Sunday: closed

Wellesley Fells Branch Library: 308 Weston Rd., Wellesley MA 02482

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10am – 5pm
Wednesday: 10am – 5pm
Thursday: 10am – 5pm
Friday: 10am – 5pm
Saturday: closed
Sunday: closed

Wellesley Free Library reopening date shifts to just before the frost is on the pumpkin

July 27, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The Wellesley Permanent Building Committee met remotely to go over the Main Library renovation project, as well as the many other projects in various stages of planning or completion the town has going right now. In addition to the library, agenda items included the Town Hall interior; and the Middle School, the Hunnewell, and the Hardy projects.

Wellesley library, renovations — Chain link fencing blocks cars from entering the Wellesley Free Library’s parking lot. There is a book drop to accept returns outside the parking garage entrance.

Wellesley Free Main Library

The main library has been closed since April for a $2.8+ million renovation, and originally was expected to reopen by the end of September. Slowdowns due to supply chain issues have bumped that anticipated opening to early October. The Facilities Management department was able to get an extension to keep open the current Temporary Main Library location at 50 Central Street until the end of September.

Library patrons and staff aren’t the only ones anxious to see the job completed. Design and Construction Manager for the town, Steve Gagosian, grumbled about construction delays saying, “I’m going to have to draw a line in the sand with them and tell them they have to be out of the building by the end of September.”

It’s hard to be patient when it comes to Wellesley’s most-loved public space.

Wellesley Free Library redesign sounds nice

Check back for The Swellesley Report’s updates on the Town Hall interior project, and the Middle School, Hunnewell, and Hardy projects.

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Introduction to Day Hiking in the White Mountains

July 20, 2021 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley Free Library is offering a 3-hour day hiking workshop via zoom on Wednesday, July 21 at 6pm.

Course description: This course is designed to take a person off the street and prepare them to hike in the White Mountain National Forest, or anywhere for that matter. It takes more than setting out on an afternoon whim with 16 ounces of water, flip-flops, and a sweater to safely hike a mountain. This course will reveal what it takes. It’s broken down into three segments covering planning and preparation, packing and gear, then the art of hiking covering myriad aspects of being on trail from scrambling to etiquette.

The Swellesley family just returned from the White Mountains, which were challenging and spectacular. We hiked Mt. Eisenhower, which rises close to 4,800 feet. We also took the easy way up Mt. Washington this time, via the Cog Railway…