Library director details staffing, building upgrades and programs as FY26 budgeting begins

Director Kimberly Grad presented operational, facilities and program updates at the Feb. 3 Abbot Public Library trustees meeting. Her report covered staffing, building maintenance, signage and upcoming budget work related to FY26.

Grad said a new part-time Senior Library Assistant will start this month and that holiday/closure scheduling has changed: the library will no longer have early-closure days because of complications calculating hours and pay. Building work includes near-complete lighting programming with a final adjustment scheduled for March 6 and an unresolved GGD/water-hammer question. The director also listed clean-up and Municibid auction items at 3 Brook Road and a storage room at 235 Pleasant Street, as well as production of outdoor Open/Closed signs and A-frame shelf signage.

On funding and planning, Grad noted the State of the Town presentation scheduled for Feb. 5 and that a meeting with the Finance Committee (Fin Com) will be scheduled in early March for FY26 budget discussions. She said a Shattuck Memorial Fund proposal is due Feb. 7 and that she is preparing a comprehensive guide to special funds history and use restrictions to help staff manage those accounts within town financial processes.

Programs mentioned include distribution of “Grant Memos” to Children, Teen and Adult departments to support general programming, makerspace development, memory kits and services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Grad also said the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) is encouraging libraries to collect patron stories to support the FY2026 legislative agenda. Grad reported that NOBLE will consolidate some online/email/internet support, which should eliminate a separate Comcast billing line for the library.

Trustees were reminded to complete conflict-of-interest training and of the Legislative Breakfast on Feb. 7.