Trustees for the Town of Hubbardston’s public library said they will invite community members to an informational meeting on Monday, Jan. 20, to re-establish a Friends of the Library organization and to solicit leadership interest.

The meeting, set for 1:30 p.m. in the library and to be posted as an official trustees meeting, is intended as an introductory session: a building tour, an overview of three organizational pathways and an opportunity for attendees to identify a point person or steering contact.

Trustees emphasized three options to present to prospective Friends: forming an independent 501(c)(3) with a traditional nonprofit board; operating under the umbrella of the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts (CFNCM), which can serve as a fiscal sponsor and handle annual filings; or applying for startup grants and technical assistance from United for Libraries (a program of the American Library Association) to help organize and seed the group. Trustees reported that CFNCM staff searched their records and found no active fund or completed agreement for a past Friends group, but a contact entry for a Sandra McLeod appeared in the foundation’s files. The foundation representative told trustees it can host a designated fund that names the town as beneficiary, and that distributions can be made automatically or on demand; trustees noted CFNCM indicated an expectation of a roughly $10,000 contribution over four years to support administrative costs if the Friends opt to use the foundation’s services.

Trustees said they will invite the dozen people who previously expressed interest, advertise the meeting publicly and provide a short summary of relevant documents (the trustees mentioned a 19-page “how-to” packet) so attendees can review options in advance. Trustees said the Jan. 20 session will prioritize introductions and information sharing rather than final organizational votes, though attendees may identify a volunteer contact or interim leader at the meeting.

Trustees also discussed next steps if the Friends opt to pursue incorporation: drafting a mission statement, providing examples of mission statements from neighboring towns, and preparing either legal counsel or the foundation as a backstop for administrative filings. Trustees suggested offering a short “starter” agenda, tours of the building while it is closed for the holiday, and follow-up sessions if attendees want to continue organizing.

The trustees asked for volunteers to join a short Zoom call with CFNCM staff before Jan. 20 so the foundation can present specifics to prospective Friends.

The trustees scheduled the informational session for Monday, Jan. 20, 1:30–3:00 p.m., and asked staff to post the meeting notice on social media, the town website and on the library’s front sign.