Lakeville library director outlines staffing, programs and asks board to revisit memorial-gifts policy

At the Dec. 17 meeting the Lakeville Library director reported ongoing hiring activity, upcoming and returning youth programs, volunteer support for collection work and raised the memorial-gifts policy for board review.

Jennifer Jones said the library received about 10 to 12 applications for a library clerk position and "we're interviewing 6" candidates; she expects to fill the vacancy soon. Jones described active collection weeding of CDs, DVDs and audiobooks and noted a volunteer named Michael is helping weekly. Youth services concluded holiday story times with good attendance and plans are in place for story hours to resume in February, with music programs returning in March; Jones also flagged that one Sphero educational robot is no longer holding a charge and may need replacement.

A substantial portion of discussion centered on memorial benches and other donated items. Trustees reviewed models used by other municipalities that set a 10-year default useful life for benches, debated donor responsibility for repairs or replacement, and discussed materials (teak, metal, composite) and plaque policies. The board instructed the director to draft or bring sketch language to include memorials under the library's gifts policy and scheduled further review on the January agenda.

Other operational updates included building- and grounds-related maintenance (recurring water-flow alarm and a recent boiler valve issue), a planned annual fire alarm and sprinkler inspection in January, and pending circulation-computer quotes from vendors. The Friends group reported a successful open house and the Snowperson Jubilee fundraiser raised about $5,300 and will receive a matching contribution, with planning continuing for next year.

The board agreed to place quiet-room policy language and memorial-bench considerations on upcoming agendas and to revisit the gift policy for clearer donor guidance.