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Library director warns of building limits and deferred repairs as circulation jumps
Summary
The library director told council circulation is up and the building—more than 120 years old—needs near-term repairs (children’s-room door, boiler, flooring) and a structural assessment; he urged budgeting for these capital items in coming years.
Bill Meakin, library director, told the town council the library’s collection (about 36,000 items) and circulation have grown — Meakin said the library is on track to circulate over 40,000 items this fiscal year, roughly 6% above last year and 40% higher than 2023. He said children’s materials now make up more than 60% of circulation, a substantial shift from a decade and a half ago.
Meakin said staffing has been reduced to about 80% of previous levels and that the library has cut hours; despite that, circulation has risen. He presented several capital and maintenance priorities: replacing the heavy-use exterior door for the children’s room (estimated $1,000–$2,000), completing an emergency egress that is in place but not fully functional, replacing an aging boiler last updated in the 1970s, and scheduling replacement of the children’s-room floor (targeted for FY2028) and long-term planning for heat-pump replacements.
Council members pressed for timing and scope. Meakin said some items are relatively small and could be done in the coming fiscal year, while larger items (comprehensive structural assessment and heat pump replacements) should be planned in the capital-improvement program. He offered to provide detailed line‑item estimates and historic account breakouts to inform deliberations.
The council did not take formal action on funding at the meeting but requested staff provide capital-item lists and cost estimates for upcoming sessions.
