Library trustees approve one‑for‑one Food‑for‑Fines program; select board sign‑off required

The Town of Lakeville Library Board of Trustees voted to approve a Food‑for‑Fines program that will let patrons remove current overdue charges from their accounts by donating nonperishable food items on a one‑for‑one basis.

Library Director Jennifer Jones said the program is written to apply to “current charges on their card,” meaning even very small outstanding balances could be cleared if a patron donates an item. Jones said she had prepared a letter to put the program on the March 10 Select Board agenda because library fines are deposited into the town’s general fund and Select Board approval is required.

The board discussed logistics and coordination with the Council on Aging. Jones said she would coordinate with Lori at the COA about pantry needs and suggested posting a list of recommended items so donations better match current demand. She also said the library would accept whatever nonperishable items patrons bring but will provide guidance to avoid overstocking particular products.

Trustee Patrick Marshall moved the program, Nancy Lefebvre seconded, and the motion passed with the trustees voting in favor. The board asked Jones to finalize the letter to town staff and to present the plan to the Select Board on March 10.

The library director estimated the program’s likely financial trade‑offs: automatic renewals have already reduced fine revenue, and Food‑for‑Fines would shift donated value to pantry stock rather than town revenue. Jones said fines revenue has dropped substantially since automatic renewals began and that the library expects the program to yield pantry items rather than large sums of town revenue.

The trustees asked staff to work with the COA to manage timing and types of donations and to report back with the Select Board’s response.