Library highlights rising usage and asks for modest staffing and tech upgrades

Interim Library Director Andre LeClaire told the Select Board that library use and services have expanded and that grants and the Friends group underwrite much programming.

"15,283 visits to the library, And that's in a year," LeClaire reported, highlighting a year-long calendar count and adding that circulations totaled 48,237. He said the library’s new 'library of things' circulated 219 items in its first year and that home-delivery and a sensory garden are among new, grant-funded services.

Why it matters: LeClaire said the state minimum-appropriation calculation (roughly $44,000 in this presentation) is critical to retaining the state grant that pays for CW Mars network membership and digital resources. He said some grants and donations support programming and materials but do not cover recurring operating costs such as staff hours and utilities.

LeClaire described a $19,000 grant that will be used for technology purchases — replacements for public computers, laptops and hotspots. He also proposed two staffing options tied to a potential override: an extra five hours for the youth librarian (to allow Saturday programming) and a 10-hour library technician position that would reduce substitute costs and cover weekend shifts.

What’s next: The Select Board discussed level-service and override-budget scenarios; the finance committee will include the library’s minimum appropriation and staffing options in FY27 deliberations.