Southborough library director flags rising NewsBank cost and outlines response after losing MPLCP funding

Library Director Ryan told the Town of Southborough Library Board of Trustees on Jan. 21 that the library’s subscription to the NewsBank newspaper database is likely to become too costly for the town and that Southborough was not selected for funding from the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP).

Ryan said NewsBank has proposed expanding access beyond Massachusetts and raising prices; the library’s share of the consortium bill is expected to approach $28,100 next year. "I don't think we can justify the expense," Ryan said, noting that usage of the resource peaked during the COVID-19 pandemic and has since declined. He said Shrewsbury is likely to continue paying and that Southborough may stop contributing after the current year.

On the MPLCP application, Ryan told trustees that Southborough received a needs rating of about 2.44 out of 20 in the most recent competitive round; the director said there were 22 total applicants and roughly 15 communities received some level of funding or were waitlisted. He said successful applicants generally had needs ratings in the 11–16 range. The board discussed possible reasons the town’s application did not score higher, including high median incomes and positive public-survey responses that may have reduced perceived need.

Trustees agreed it would be useful to commission a current space assessment to document needs whether the town re-applies for MPLCP funding or pursues improvements without state support. Ryan said he would seek consultant referrals and return with options in February. He also said the MBLC’s process changed this round to a competitive model with an added needs-rating component; that change, he said, affected Southborough's competitiveness.

Other technical items raised in the director’s report included a website slowdown caused by integrated code from the now-defunct Plymouth Rocket museum-pass vendor; the code has been removed and load times resolved. Ryan said patrons can reserve museum passes through the catalog on newer machines and by phone, though the children's-room computer still appears unable to complete bookings. The board heard that museum-pass reservations previously required both a library card number and PIN with the old provider; the new workflow confirms patron information on a subsequent screen.

Trustees instructed Ryan to gather consultant options for a space assessment and report back at the next meeting. No formal board action or funding commitment for a consultant or renovation was taken at the Jan. 21 meeting.