Sharon library trustees authorize donor plaques, limit Friends book sale to annual event

The Sharon Public Library Board of Trustees voted May 27 to authorize the library foundation to offer additional donor plaques and biographies for the ESOL and college guidance areas and to limit the Friends book sale to a single annual event.

The action on donor recognition began when trustees discussed offering plaques and brief biographies to recognize recent donors to the ESOL room and the college-care guidance area. Trustee Carolyn Weeks moved to authorize the foundation to offer the additional plaques and biographies; Trustee Sarah Graf seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

The decision to restrict book sales followed a financial update. Meeting records show the Friends' book sale generated $10,629.13 and membership revenue totaled $1,629.57. Trustees voiced sustainability concerns, noting museum pass costs of about $7,000 annually reduce the funds available for programming and prompted the board to limit book sales to once per year to better align volunteer efforts and fundraising outcomes.

Library Director Randy Gagné reported salary expenses for the remainder of the fiscal year are expected to total $109,000 and said sufficient funds are currently available. Trustees also discussed state aid allocations and various account breakdowns included in the handouts distributed before the meeting.

On facilities and policy, trustees clarified that only covered drinks are acceptable in the building (including covered water containers) and recommended replacing the term “snack” with “Food” in the community-room policy to reduce ambiguity. The board also noted an emergency safety manual will be circulated to department heads and local police and fire departments for review.

The board received the director's report and confirmed its next meeting is scheduled for June 17, 2026. The meeting began at 5:35 p.m. and was adjourned by consensus at 6:27 p.m.