EASTHAM – After two years of construction the new Eastham Public Library has opened.
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Tuesday for the new facility which doubles the amount of space of the old library which dates back to the late 1800s.
Library Director Deborah DeJonker-Berry says the ceremony was a thank you to the community for making the new structure possible.
“Everybody is just so happy that the library is open and the collection’s back, DeJonker-Berry said. “We can look forward to using not only the library parts but the community spaces.”
DeJonker-Berry says the new library was designed to provide spaces for people and groups and features new technology including a sound system, a large projection screen, and devices for the hearing and visually impaired.
“There’s an awful lot of technology here that is going to take us a while to learn,” she said.
DeJonker-Berry said video conferencing is a service that will be available in the future.
The new building has a modern look as it was added on to the original 1897 library which was renovated.
The construction was originally scheduled to be completed in the summer but was delayed due to issues getting hooked up to municipal water.
While construction was underway the library was run out of mobile trailers at Town Hall.
DeJonker-Berry said the ribbon cutting ceremony was a thank you to the whole community for making the new library happen.
“They worked through a town meeting and an override vote. Then the time it takes to get the grant money and design the plans and actually build it,” she said. “It’s been a long time coming.”