Norwood trustees flag inconsistent counting of electronic resources; library trims Hoopla collection

Clayton, speaking for library staff, told the Board of Library Trustees that the annual report highlighted dramatic year‑over‑year changes in children’s programming but also raised concerns about how electronic resource use is counted across platforms. He said inconsistent counting methods — for example counting searches in one database versus title accesses in another — make apples‑to‑apples comparisons difficult and can distort perceived usage.

The board discussed the implications of those metrics for advocacy and budget conversations. Trustees noted that aggregate figures can be misleading and encouraged the library to measure meaningful transactions (reference interactions, satisfaction and repeat usage) rather than raw search counts. One trustee urged sensitivity because poorly presented metrics can be used to justify program cuts.

Clayton also reported a significant curation action: the library removed over 260,000 titles from its Hoopla collection after review determined many added entries did not meet the library’s collection‑development criteria. He said the change reflects an effort to ensure digital collections align with local selection policies rather than relying solely on aggregate title counts.

Clayton summarized two related state legislative efforts: a bill to create a commission to study e‑book licensing and procurement practices (aimed at improving library bargaining power and contract terms), and a separate bill to strengthen protections for librarians and educators under 'freedom to read' measures. He recommended that interested trustees contact members of the Ways and Means Committee to express support if the board wishes to engage.