Christine Barbera, Hubbardston Public Library director, told trustees the library recorded 988 local circulations and 1,073 total circulations in August and that the library’s Facebook reach for the month was 3,309, with 1,079 page followers.

Barbera, presenting the director’s report for August 2025, said the library issued two new cards (one an eCard) and logged 497 website visits in August. She also summarized digital-lending activity: 852 OverDrive monthly checkouts and 392 combined e-audio and e-book holds. "Respectfully submitted by Christine Barbera with a couple of caveats," she said, noting the financial figures were provisional pending updated accountant numbers.

Trisha, a member of the library staff who led summer programming, described a busy season of outreach and partnerships. "I really wanted to focus on outreach and collaboration with both local police and fire, to help foster a relationship with the kids," Trisha said, explaining the library invited the Hubbardston Fire Department and Hubbardston Police Department to summer story times so children would recognize first responders.

The summer reading program drew 448 story-time attendees over the season and 49 total entries for the reading program, up from 44 the prior year, Trisha reported. Special events included a popular storybook walk that staff plan to run again with a seasonal (Halloween) display for mid-October, weather permitting. Dungeons & Dragons ran weekly through the year but staff expect a short September hiatus to accommodate teens returning to school and to re-market the program.

Trustees and staff discussed social-media metrics and how followers and non-followers see library posts in users’ feeds. Barbera said Facebook views for August were 18,227 and that 57.1% of those views came from followers while 42.9% came from non-followers. Instagram reach and engagement were smaller but present: 162 reach and 205 followers with 565 views in August.

Staff also asked for volunteer help on landscape upkeep at the library’s front and rear planters and noted upcoming outreach appearances, including a combined 48 Gardner Road open house and Taste of Hubbardston event in October and other fall community events where the library will table.

Trustees asked staff to continue refining website and social-media reporting and to post recurring program dates (for example, D&D) in advance on the new website to help patrons and parents plan ahead.

Barbera cautioned some statistics (notably financial account balances and page likes from the Meta Business Suite) were provisional: "The financial page is based on what I think we did ... take them with a grain of salt," she said.

The library will continue to publish monthly director’s reports and post program schedules on the library website and social accounts.