MARLBOROUGH – For the past year, Sara Belisle and the rest of the staff at Marlborough Public Library have been getting to know their building again.
“We’ve reacquainted ourselves,” she said. “It’s big and bright, and fully operational.”
Since returning to the Main Street location in October 2023, they have been using the expanded, renovated space for programs and meetings.
This includes the summer reading program, which drew 350 young and adult participants.
“It’s been tons and tons of fun,” said Belisle.
When the library reopened, the local history room and community room were still under construction. Now both rooms are online and getting plenty of use.
“We have programs with the historical society in the history room,” said Belisle. “The PTOs, Rotary and Lions are starting to use the space, and the study rooms are very popular.”
According to the library, there have been 136 uses of the meeting room and 3,906 uses of the study room.
With 148,540 library visits and 14,866 library card holders, the Marlborough library also made 3,503 new cards in the past year. Over the past year, the library has also held 878 programs that were attended by more than 11,000 visitors, had 1,042 museum passes borrowed, held 8,398 computer sessions and 21,263 WiFi sessions and has a total of 84,837 items in the collection, with 9,268 added.
In November, the library was featured in “The Year in Architecture 2024” issue of Library Journal.
The library recently had an art show with Jenni DeMauro that ran through Dec. 31. It’s also hosting a Winter Farmers Market on Jan. 11 and Feb. 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The market will feature local produce, meat, fish and other speciality foods. A SNAP match will be available.
Belisle said the biggest highlight has come from former patrons “who are discovering all the things the library has to offer.”
Janice Merk, a member of the Board of Library Trustees and the Marlborough Library Foundation, credited city off icials for the project.
“The city came together for this,” she said.
Library Foundation and the Friends
Over the past year, the Friends of the Library have become more active. The group conducted its first book sale on Oct. 25. Proceeds from the sale will help the group support library programs and events.
As for the foundation, Merk said the group is close to its goal of raising $2 million to support capital projects at the library.
The latest projects are the installation of an outside book drop and the refurbishing of three bronze statues, a frog, hare and mushroom, that now occupy the garden space near the main entrance.
Belisle said the statues are popular with the younger set.
“They love climbing over them,” she said.
The next steps for the library, according to Belisle, will be the five-year strategic plan, which came out in October.
“This will help develop the future of the library,” she said.
She and Merk hope to have Sunday hours restored.
“That’s been the biggest request” from patrons, said Merk.
For information on programs and events, call 508624-6900, or visit www.marlboroughpubliclibrary.org.
