Town Administrator Michael Mullen and Library Director Jocelyn Tavares would like to inform residents that the Dighton Public Library will be temporarily relocated to the lower level of Town Hall and a modular building at the Town Hall complex, located at 979 Somerset Ave.
Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 7, Dighton Public Library’s Youth Services will be operating out of the lower level of Town Hall. The main branch of the library, including adult services, will relocate the following week and operate out of a modular building at the Town Hall complex beginning Monday, Sept. 13. Library programming is anticipated to take place in the lower-level conference room in the Town Hall as well.
To ensure a continuation of services during the library’s relocation, all patrons will be able to conduct all library business at the Youth Services section until the modular building opens. Patrons should note that during this time not all items will be readily available and there may be a slight delay in fulfilling library requests.
Patrons are encouraged to place their holds through the library’s request form, SAILS mobile app, online catalog, or by calling 508-669-6421. When patrons’ holds are ready, the library will set up an appointment for patrons to pick up their items.
“We are committed to providing the same top-tier service to our patrons as we have done throughout the pandemic during our relocation to the Town Hall complex and modular building,” Director Tavares said. “We appreciate our patrons’ patience and understanding as we adapt to our temporary relocation, and we look forward to seeing everyone in these new locations in the near future.”
Town officials and the Library Trustees worked to secure and coordinate the temporary relocation of the Dighton Public Library to the Town Hall Complex and modular building following an update in state policy requiring all libraries to open by Labor Day in order to maintain state accreditation. The Dighton Public Library’s Main Street location has not been open to the public since March 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Dighton Public Library’s temporary relocation will allow the Town of Dighton to address the Main Street Library building’s egress and accessibility needs. At the November 2020 Special Town Meeting, $105,000 in funding was approved by residents to address these immediate building safety and accessibility needs.
The Town has hired Angelo A. Kyriakides, Architect, P.C. to draft construction plans for a second egress and accessibility improvements for the building. The plans are expected to be completed by mid-October. Town officials plan to continually reassess the needs of the library as the construction project at the Main Street building is being completed.
“The current building safety, egress and accessibility needs of the Dighton Public Library building on Main Street have been at the forefront of our priorities for some time now,” Town Administrator Mullen said. “We remain committed to working collaboratively across all town departments and with residents to develop short- and long-term solutions that will allow us to address our library’s needs while continuing to serve Dighton residents and local families.”
Town officials thank Library Director Tavares, library staff, the Library Trustees, Building Commissioner James Aguiar, Highway Superintendent Thomas Ferry, Highway Department staff, the Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee for their assistance throughout this process.
Additional updates regarding the Dighton Public Library will be shared as soon as they become available.
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