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Hubbardston library director reports patron and circulation figures, warns of state-level budget impacts to digital collections
Summary
Library Director Christine Barbera presented June usage figures and outlined how federal funding changes and state shortfalls could increase local costs for CWMARS/OverDrive access and affect the library's ability to buy digital titles and maintain state certification for libraries.
Christine Barbera, director of the Town of Hubbardston Public Library, delivered the director’s report for June 2025 and briefed trustees on library usage, digital collections and statewide funding concerns.
Barbera reported June operational statistics: “We had 0 curbside pickups, 323 patrons,” and said the library hosted six in-person story-time events that month. The report listed 1,121 Hoverston items circulated in June (1,269 total items circulated regardless of ownership), 779 OverDrive checkouts, and 398 website visits for June. The library registered five new cards and recorded 48 Wi‑Fi connections.
Barbera told trustees that the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) — a federal funding source — had been discontinued by executive action earlier in the year, and that the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) and regional consortia are preparing for reduced state support. “IMLS is the Institute of Museum and Library Services,” Barbera said in the meeting while explaining the funding shift.
Trustees heard that Central/Western Massachusetts Automated Resource Sharing (CWMARS), the regional consortium that provides a shared collection and purchasing discounts, expects a FY 2026 shortfall of approximately $232,000. Barbera said libraries may see higher costs for OverDrive/Libby purchases because consortium discounts and state cooperative contracts are under negotiation or have been reduced; she provided an example that an audiobook license previously costing about $60.65 could rise to roughly $70–$85.
Barbera described state certification requirements administered by the MBLC, noting that towns must meet a formula-based appropriations threshold (total appropriated municipal income) to maintain certification. Loss of certification can restrict lending reciprocity and change how libraries handle out-of-town or out-of-state borrowers; some libraries charge annual nonresident fees when reciprocity is limited. Barbera recommended trustees consider a policy for borrowing privileges if nearby municipalities lose state certification.
Trustees discussed practical implications for patrons and collections: higher per-license digital costs could reduce how many audiobooks and ebooks the library can purchase, and a reduced consortia budget could change wait times for popular titles. Barbera said CWMARS is addressing a shortfall using reserves and OverDrive budgets for FY 2026, but she warned FY 2027 may bring worse budgetary effects.
Barbera closed by summarizing program metrics (story-time and book-club attendance) and by noting that the library was closed June 19 for Juneteenth. She said end-of-year financial figures will be available once the new accountant completes the reports and that trustees would receive the ARRIS / annual summary for review in August.
Trustees asked clarifying questions about the consortia, purchases, and possible policy changes for reciprocal borrowing; Barbera said she will bring draft policy language to the trustees if the MBLC certification situation worsens.
