Brookline Library Reopens After Temporary Shutdown

BROOKLINE, MA — The Village Library at 361 Washington St. reopened on Tuesday after a five-day hiatus.

The space was temporarily shut down on Thursday, April 9 to allow for a water leak to be repaired. While the problem was being addressed, contractors also discovered mold growth behind a finished wall. The library was able to shut off its HVAC system while it was closed, which prevented the further spread and circulation of the mold. Due to the mold’s presence, all affected wall materials were disposed of, all air filters were replaced, and a deep cleaning was undertaken overall.

"The health and safety of our community and staff are our absolute top priorities," Library Director Jill Mercurio said in a statement. "While we believe risks are very low, we chose to be as cautious as possible by shutting down the building and the air systems while the remediation team performs their work."

Mercurio added that the Children’s Room and the "Rabbit Hole" program room will remain closed for an additional week so new carpets can be installed. That project was slated to take place later in the month, but the decision was made to do it earlier due to the current closure.

The Public Library of Brookline was first established in 1857, and was the first in the state to be funded through tax revenue. Brookline’s Coolidge Corner and Putterham library branches remained open for community members to use while Village was out of operation. The Village library is regularly open seven days a week. Mercurio was selected to be the town’s next Library Director last December by the Brookline Board of Trustees. Prior to her current role, she spent five years in a similar role for neighboring Newton.

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