The Dracut Library is Open

The Moses Greeley Parker Memorial Library is Finally open. A grand opening is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. outside the library, at 28 Arlington St. It will be followed by another ceremony inside, when the public may view the new interior.

”The event is slated to be held until 4:30 p.m., but we are anticipating having trouble getting people to leave,” said Schwarz, who is director of the library.

Today’s grand opening caps more than a decade of efforts to upgrade the library. In 1992, the library was closed for six months, because of state budget cuts and because the town voted not to raise taxes. The library reopened with donated funds.

Ten years later, Dracut residents approved a tax increase to expand and renovate the library, agreeing to make up the difference between the state grant of $2.5 million and the $7.5 million project. The refurbished library has three times the usable library space, amounting to 30,000 square feet.

It also features a 100-seat community meeting room, study areas, and a children’s story and crafts room.

Moving the books and other materials back into the library took less time than the staff had expected. In a week’s time, 85,000 items were moved into the new building at the beginning of April from the library’s temporary location at Lakeview Junior High School.

However, library staff members and volunteers have not finished placing books and media on the shelves. Besides unpacking boxes, Schwarz and the staff and volunteers are setting up more than 60 computers.

Schwarz said he was not worried that the library would not be ready for the celebration.

”Our staff does not know the meaning of the word ‘can’t,’ ” she said.

At today’s ceremony, a short program outside will include the raising of the flag and the Dracut High School a cappella group singing ”Amazing Grace.” A library staff member, Ellie Szafran, and a library trustee, Nancy Katin, will sing ”America the Beautiful.”

Dracut police will raise the gates into the building, allowing the public inside.

”We are definitely playing it by ear when it comes to time and the scheduling of events,” said Schwarz, who added that there is no written program for the day.

But she knows that a raffle will be held inside the building.

Everyone will receive a raffle ticket, and a winner will be chosen in each of three categories: children, teenagers, and adults.

Each winner will be the first to check out a book selected by the library for that age category, on cards created for that day.

”So many Dracut residents are vying to take out the first book,” Schwarz said.

Tomorrow, the library will reopen for business at 8:30 a.m. Information is available at www.dracutlibrary.org