Narragansett council recognizes library as public institution after annual report showing heavy use and new services

The Town Council of Narragansett on March 17 adopted a resolution recognizing the Maury Luncheon's Memorial Library as a public institution and received the library board's annual report from board member Susan Amoruso.

The recognition resolution, read aloud during the meeting and approved by a 5-0 vote, declares the library governed by a seven-member board of trustees, funded by the town and the Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services, and eligible to share town resources when feasible.

Susan Amoruso, representing the library board, summarized the library's first full year in its new location at 25 Pierre Marketplace and described expanded programs, a new makerspace and planned solar and electric-vehicle infrastructure. Amoruso said the January opening included a donor reception, a Friends of the Narragansett Library event and a community open house with a ribbon-cutting led by Library Director Patty Arkwright and attended by state officials and foundation representatives.

Amoruso provided usage figures for the prior year: 51,052 visits; 127,026 physical items checked out; 44,471 e-books; 16,847 Wi-Fi connections; 1,142 new library cards issued so far this year; 597 renewals; and 8,014 cardholders who are Narragansett residents. She said the building's new meeting space seats roughly 80 people and supports expanded adult, young-adult and children's programming. Amoruso also reported that the town and library have signed for a solar installation for the library roof, expected by summer, and that the project will include two EV chargers.

Council members and several public commenters praised library staff and volunteers and urged residents to visit the new facility. Speakers at the public comment period included Susan Cicilline Bonanno, Pat Cole and Deb Kopeck, who described the building as welcoming and emphasized the library's role as a community hub.

The resolution's text, read into the record, states the library will be recognized as a public institution and that the director will continue to be invited to senior management meetings. The council adopted the resolution to be effective March 2025.

The council's approval formalizes what the library board and town staff said is an existing working arrangement and sets an administrative expectation that the library be treated comparably with other town departments when sharing services.

Looking ahead, the report and subsequent council remarks focused on completing the solar installation and continuing to expand programs and services at the new building.