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Library director reports record summer use, seeks input on EV chargers and social-work interns; building repairs loom
Summary
Clayton Cheever, director of Morrow Memorial Library, told the Board of Selectmen on June 24 that the library has seen record summer visitation and circulation and that staff are pursuing several initiatives to help residents during extreme heat and to expand services.
Clayton Cheever, director of Morrow Memorial Library, told the Board of Selectmen on June 24 that the library has seen record summer visitation and circulation and that staff are pursuing several initiatives to help residents during extreme heat and to expand services.
Cheever said summer reading programs are under way, the library is serving as a cooling center during the recent heat wave and circulation has risen: “We have circulated over ... 8,000 items so far,” he said, adding that the library expects to exceed 10,000 checkouts by month’s end.
Why it matters: The library serves as a community hub for programming, cooling, and information services. Cheever requested public feedback on a town grant seeking on‑street EV charging stations and described a plan to host social-work interns who could help coordinate services for vulnerable residents without creating new recurring town payroll costs.
EV charging grant and public feedback: Cheever said the town is pursuing a $500,000 grant to install multiple charging stations and that grant rules require on‑street placement for at least some chargers. The library has proposed a stretch of on‑street parking on Beacon Street adjacent to the library as a possible site and is collecting public input by QR code and direct outreach to neighbors.
Social-work interns and coordination: Cheever described discussions with the Boston University Sargent School of Social Work about placing student interns in Norwood to help with macro-level social work, resource mapping and client connections. The internship option requires local supervision by a degreed social worker; Cheever said regional partners are being discussed to meet the supervisory requirement.
Building repair and capital planning: Consultants will present a draft facilities report to library and town staff the following morning, Cheever said. The consultant preview shows multiple tiers of needed repairs; Cheever cautioned that combined repairs exceeding 30% of the building’s assessed value would trigger additional accessibility and code upgrades under state requirements, potentially increasing project scope and cost. The library has placed preliminary figures in the capital plan, including a near-term line at roughly $1.4 million and a longer-term placeholder around $10 million for renovation.
Quotes and attribution: Clayton Cheever provided circulation figures, cooling-center observations and details about grant outreach and internship planning. He asked the board and public to weigh in on charger placement and said he will distribute flyers and digital materials.
What’s next: Consultants will deliver the draft facilities report; town staff, the board and the public will review the recommendations and the capital planning committee will consider funding scenarios for repairs and potential renovation.
