Library supporters and elected officials congregated on the corner of Stone and School streets in the pouring rain on August 24, 2010 for a groundbreaking ceremony that would mark the beginning of construction on the new Walpole public library building. The new public library, scheduled to be finished in 2012, will be the first public building to be built in over 40 years. Over twenty years of debating on constructing the new library resulted in a vote to fund $6.2 million of the costs in 2009, a $4 million grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissions, and $1 million in private donations.
The new public library is being built as an improvement to Walpole’s current library on Common Street. The Common Street library was built in 1903 with a $15,000 grant from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and a land donation by a Walpole family. For years, town officials and library staff kept voting for a larger space, and finally, in 2009, they won the debate by an 8-count vote. The new library will be 32,000 square feet, more energy efficient and environmentally friendly than the current library, and “more accessible to the public,” according to Library Director, Sal Genovese. Public space in the Common Street library is scarce, but the building plans for the new building provide more space for the members of the community to gather and enjoy their time. Along with the large amount of space, the new library will also include tutoring rooms, design rooms, and programming rooms. Walpole’s current library is known for being difficult to navigate for disabled members of the community, but Genovese said “[the town] is aiming to make the new library much more handicap accessible.” It has also been rumored that the new library will also contain a café¾ which have become popular in libraries across the country in the last few years¾ and an archival vault to house the town’s official documents, which at present time have no where to be stored.
While the new library is under construction, the current library will still be in use as it always has been. However, the use for the old library building after construction is finished has not been determined. Since the new library is being built on Stone Field, town favorites – such as the fireworks and the volleyball courts – will change locations. The volleyball courts have already been moved to next to the center pool. The town is still trying to figure out where the annual July 3 fireworks will be held.
The town, and especially the libary staff, is excited for the building of the new library. Genovese said “[he] is a little bit scared and nervous as well [as excited], as anyone would be with a huge construction project such as this.” Stress is building in the library, as everyone prepares for the move, but it’s no question that everyone on the library staff is thrilled as well. Genovese said “[The staff] is excited about going into the new building and being able to do things the current space does not allow.” Anticipation will be high for the next 16 months as construction progresses. Although the Common Street library was loved by the town, there is no arguing that a better, and bigger library will be well-appreciated by Walpole.
