DelaFosse to Permanently Close

Change is upon us. We tend to celebrate new beginnings in January with the new calendar year, or in September when school starts, or in spring as winter fades away and the greenery returns. As we move into March of 2022, the Library is experiencing its own new beginning as we permanently close the DelaFosse branch of the Peterborough Public Library.

In February of 1949, a branch Library opened in the south end of Peterborough on Park Street above what was then a hardware store. A new building was constructed next door, and on December 1, 1965, the DelaFosse Branch Library officially opened in its current location. Over the last 56 years, numerous community members have walked through the doors of the DelaFosse Branch to experience a story time by the fireplace, have a chat with a good friend, or enjoy a cozy read under the watchful and knowing eyes of Mr. DelaFosse.

The DelaFosse Branch was closed on March 13, 2020 due to the COVID pandemic. At the time, we did not know that this would be its permanent fate.

As our COVID realities shifted and restrictions were lifted, plans to reopen the DelaFosse Branch in 2021 had to be put on hold due to safety concerns associated with the condition of the facility. The costs to resolve those issues were prohibitive and we were looking for alternative solutions.

In a serendipitous turn of events, there is both space and support for a new Library branch to be included in the recreation complex being built at Morrow Park. This new Library branch location will allow us to keep a branch in the south end of Peterborough, be a part of a larger multi-use facility, and to expand the Library services we are able to provide to the community. We are very excited for this opportunity and the possibilities it brings.

The DelaFosse Branch chapter of the tale of the Peterborough Public Library has come to an end, but there are still many adventures and stories to be told. We are looking forward to what awaits us as we begin the next chapter.

- Jennifer Jones, Library CEO