Clayton, a library staff member, briefed the Town of Norwood trustees on two separate pieces of Massachusetts legislation concerning libraries and digital access. "As we've been following what's happening with the e-book bills in the Massachusetts state house, the senate moved out of committee," Clayton said, adding that one measure called "Freedom to Read" aims to protect library workers from repercussions for lending materials that are part of local collection decisions and that a second bill would form a commission to study e-book pricing and access.

Clayton told trustees both bills had moved through committee and that versions were expected on the Senate floor in the coming days. He said supporters include authors and some independent publishers, while large commercial publishers have resisted the proposals. "There are a coalition of authors, and independent publishers that are very favorable. But it has met resistance ... from large publishers," Clayton said.

Trustees did not vote on a stance at the meeting but were urged to contact state senators if they wished to follow or support the measures; Clayton offered to provide updated bill numbers to any trustee who asked. The briefing framed the bills as a combination of worker-protection measures and a legislative study of e-book market dynamics rather than immediate regulatory changes.