Newbury Library Board Discusses Icicles and Alarm Issues, Acquires New Reading Software

Overview: The Newbury Library Board meeting focused on addressing recurring maintenance issues, including growing icicles and persistent alarm system malfunctions. The library has also acquired Beanstack software to enhance summer reading programs.

Newbury Library Board Discusses Consortium Benefits Amid Service Fee Concerns

Overview: At the recent Newbury Library Board meeting, discussions primarily focused on the library’s affiliation with the Massachusetts Library System and the Northern Library Consortium (NLC), highlighting the financial and operational advantages of these partnerships, especially in light of recent service fee increases. Additionally, a proposed gallery policy aimed at fostering community engagement and collaboration with local schools was introduced, while updates on library programs and technological improvements were shared.

Newbury Library Board Overcomes Heating Issues, Prepares for Staff and Program Enhancements

Overview: The recent Newbury Library Board meeting focused on resolving heating system issues that forced the library to close early last Friday, while also discussing staffing updates and successful community programs. The library has been managing without consistent heat, but after a series of fixes and temporary solutions involving space heaters, the heating is now functioning. The Department of Public Works (DPW) played a critical role in addressing the problem by traveling to Canton for a part, although it did not resolve the issue. However, they managed to restore heating using alternative methods.

Newbury Library Board Tackles Budget Hike to Maintain Consortium Membership

Overview: The Newbury Library Board of Trustees convened on November 12th to deliberate on a range of issues, most notably a proposed budget increase driven by rising fees from the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium (MVLC). The board recognized the necessity of the budget hike to ensure continued access to essential library services, including interlibrary loans and statewide databases.

Newbury Library Adapts to Baker & Taylor Closure, Focuses on New Opportunities

Overview: At the recent Newbury Library Board of Trustees meeting, the most discussion centered around the impending closure of Baker & Taylor, a long-established book and media supplier. The library director announced that the company, which has been a staple for libraries’ CD and DVD collections, would cease operations by January. The director reassured attendees that the library has been utilizing Ingram for books since Baker & Taylor’s previous distribution issues in 2019. However, they noted that finding new suppliers for CDs and DVDs would be necessary, although they do not anticipate major disruptions.