Woodbury library director flags roof leaks, vendor disruption and requests capital repairs

Woodbury Public Library Director Susan Mutschler told the Boards of Selectmen and Finance at the Jan. 31 budget workshop that several maintenance and capital needs and a vendor disruption require attention.

Mutschler said the total number of downloadable items accessible to Woodbury patrons continues to grow and that Bibliomation has provided good value for website services. She told the boards that Baker & Taylor went out of business "overnight," forcing the library to seek replacement vendors for materials and distribution.

On facilities, Mutschler said the library’s flat roof is leaking but that the State Library will not fund its replacement; she characterized the leak as not a present safety issue and said there has been no material loss. She described additional capital needs including replacement of plexiglass in the upstairs children’s library, repair of a rotted door near the Main Street stairs that serves as a point of egress, and termite-damaged window replacement.

Mutschler provided program statistics: the library runs approximately 146 free adult programs in a fiscal year, with the Friends group sponsoring 29 programs and the town financing 44 programs. She asked for clarity on how special fund monies are used and, in public comment, a resident asked whether a $1,500 library budget line is sufficient after the vendor disruption.

Boards will review the library’s capital requests as part of ongoing budget deliberations.