Groundbreaking

Republished from The Library newsletter, May 1st, 2026

Hard hats and shovels decked out with ribbons, used by local students to officially break ground.

With spirits undampened by drizzle, on Wednesday afternoon we were joined by some 100 Friend and Brooklin boosters as we broke ground for our expansion. Standing in front of a digger from M. E. Astbury, and after thanking representatives from both Blue Ledge Carpentry and Elliott Architects, we handed the mic over to Brooklin School students Alida Lewandowski and Lola Blake, who spoke of looking forward to the addition's new resources and welcoming spaces.  Then the two donned hard-hats, hoisted shovels, and broke ground for this long-anticipated project now coming together before our eyes.

I started working at the library in 2021, just missing the public survey which determined that "yes, more room was needed at the Friend Memorial." The project was in its infancy, and phrases like “feasibility study” and “capital campaign” were unknown to me. The project seemed like it was such a long way away. Like it was always in the distance or around the corner.

Yesterday felt like we were rounding that corner. Finally seeing the results of five years of working, waiting, living in anticipation of this project starting. While each step forward gets us closer to our goals, we aren’t done yet. Still, I believe celebrating victories where you can find them is important, and I wanted to thank everyone who came to the groundbreaking on Wednesday.

Everyone who has donated their funds or their time to this project. Everyone who has attended events and helped us move chairs to and from the bathroom as we joke “gee, it’s like we need more space”. Thank you to everyone who has put up with the muddy parking lot as we begin to grow. And thank you to everyone who has taken a book off one of our shelves, even if only for a moment. We do it for you. I hope to see you at some of our events this summer!

-Catherine Nevin, Library Director