NAHANT — The Nahant Public Library is currently undergoing renovations, which the Board of Trustees discussed in their most recent meeting on Tuesday. Back in November, the Library looked to begin major work to repair water damage in the walls and the ceiling that had gradually impacted the building, which opened on June 1, 1895.
Library Director Nori Morganstein shared the latest update on the work that has been done so far, including the completion of the basement and attic. They have also “leveled out the flooring” in the nonfiction rooms as well. With that, she said that there are still “a lot” of walls that have damage.
“The Nahant room now has staging in it, but they just set that up this week, and that’s just one wall where the stuff is dropped from the ceiling. And then the children’s room, it’s just one tiny corner. In the non-fiction room, where computers are, there’s a lot more,” said Morganstein. She pointed out that there’s also a section where the ceiling drops down that they have been told has the most damage. Another wall is deteriorating to the point that it could potentially damage books if it falls down.
“There’s walls where, if they’re starting to crumble and crack, we actually could lose books that were ruined from the wall falling onto them,” she said.
And then there’s the matter of the grandfather clock, which was donated when the library opened. It will have to be moved while the repairs are being completed, which Morganstein plans on addressing in her next report. “We’re gonna have to figure out how to move our grandfather clock, which is a whole other process that will probably be in my next building report.”
As for when the work is expected to be completed, they’re estimating that it could take two or three weeks.
“It’s looking good; it just needs to be finished. That’s where we’re at,” Morganstein stated.
