Stoughton Library Opening Draws Hundreds

STOUGHTON, MA — "It's like welcoming a friend that's been missing."

That's how parent and Stoughton resident Erin Gomes described coming to the town's new library, a building which took 18 months to complete. Apparently, hundreds of people felt the same way. To a crowd of nearly 1,000, the ribbon was cut and the new Stoughton Public Library officially opened on Saturday afternoon.

There wasn't an empty aisle or computer chair in sight. Whether it was enjoying a collection of over 80,000 books, the art gallery, tables that let kids build Legos off the top and sides of it, or dozens of touchscreen computers, there was something for everyone in the building.

Gomes's son, Antonio told Patch he loved the Lego table and getting a chance to make some arts and crafts. Both were impressed by the size of the library's children's section. The section felt like an entire floor when in actuality, it was only a corner, Gomes said.

Victoria Butler grew up going to the old library and said she's excited for what a larger building means for her son Samson. Butler was particularly excited for future collaborations between the library and the Easton Children's Museum. With those programs, she said her fifth grade son can take part in reading seminars, STEM programs, and much more.

Samson was already enjoying the library, playing a computer game he couldn't take his eyes off of. He was fully immersed and said he looks forward to having an open computer for both learning and games.

"Before, they never had computers we could use," Samson said. "I like that they're touchscreen and there's lots of them. People have their own time limits too."

Library and town officials were excited to see so many people enjoying the new building, a $14 million project the Board of Selectmen were not sure was going to happen if you asked them a few years ago.

According to Selectmen Chair Robert O'Regan, the previous board did not support building a new library because they didn't think the town could afford it. Residents felt otherwise and created a petition for town meeting, he said.

"Government works. Democracy works...," O'Regan said in an an address to the crowd. "Citizens moved the town to do what town leaders were not ready to do."

Library Director Pat Basler, who spearheaded the efforts for a new library since she was hired, told the crowd she loved seeing so many people enjoying the new library from day one.

She took time to thank the entire Stoughton Public Library Building Committee, as well the Department of Public Works and everyone involved who made the project possible. With the project done, she did feel a little sad to see the committee end because she grew close to everyone who wanted to see this come to fruition.

"I feel a bit like Dorothy having to go home," Basler said.

Photos by Jimmy Bentley