Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Library Policy Changes topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
East Longmeadow trustees approve exhibit-policy change, retire community bulletin-board policy
Summary
At their March 18 meeting, the East Longmeadow Board of Library Trustees approved amendments to the Exhibit Policy to remove public display-of-collections provisions and voted to retire the Community Bulletin Boards and Literature Racks Policy; the director also reported program highlights and ongoing grant work.
The East Longmeadow Board of Library Trustees met on March 18, 2026, at the East Longmeadow Public Library and approved several administrative changes and received the director's report.
Amy Pawle, chair of the Board of Library Trustees, called the meeting to order at 6:08 p.m. After a brief public-comment period with no speakers, the board unanimously approved the minutes of its Feb. 18, 2026 meeting on a motion by Trustee Jean Cintolo, seconded by Vice Chair Cynthia MacNaught.
Library Director Katie McGonigle presented the director's report, highlighting recent and upcoming library programs and grant activity. McGonigle reported the success of the Bruins PJ Drive, the launch of a new "Paws and Pencils" program bringing therapy dogs to teens, and the start of a new Chair Yoga session for adults. She also outlined ongoing staff professional-development efforts, Friends of the Library fundraising and the annual Vinick Memorial Scholarship, and said multiple grant applications are pending, including requests related to the Americans with Disabilities Act and digital-skill training and facility improvements.
On old business, the board considered a proposed amendment to the library's Exhibit Policy. McGonigle recommended removing references to "display cases" and "collections" because the library is discontinuing the practice of publicly displaying patrons' personal collections; the physical cases will be repurposed and moved from the first-floor public area to the second-floor History Room. Trustee Cynthia MacNaught moved to accept the revised Exhibit Policy and attached application form with those deletions; Trustee Jean Cintolo seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
Under new business, McGonigle proposed restricting the library's publicly displayed bulletin boards and literature racks to material produced by the library or the town. Trustee Michelle Jones moved to retire the East Longmeadow Library's Community Bulletin Boards and Literature Racks Policy; Trustee Jean Cintolo seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
Votes at a glance: - Approval of Feb. 18, 2026 minutes: mover Jean Cintolo; second Cynthia MacNaught; outcome: passed unanimously. - Amendment to Exhibit Policy (remove references to display cases/collections; repurpose cases to History Room): mover Cynthia MacNaught; second Jean Cintolo; outcome: passed unanimously. - Retirement of Community Bulletin Boards and Literature Racks Policy (restrict bulletin boards and literature racks to Library and Town use): mover Michelle Jones; second Jean Cintolo; outcome: passed unanimously. - Motion to adjourn at 7:02 p.m.: mover Cynthia MacNaught; second Michelle Jones; outcome: passed unanimously.
The director also distributed copies of the CWMARS Strategic Plan for FY2027–2031, the CWMARS Action Plan for FY2027, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners' Legislative Agenda for FY2027 for trustees' review. The board set its next meeting for Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
Minutes were submitted by Secretary Larry Bauman.
