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Trustees authorize brief closure for Russell Library lobby refresh
Summary
The executive committee voted unanimously to allow the library director to close the Russell Library for a lobby renovation funded with $250,000 in ARPA funds, tentatively scheduled for Nov. 29–30 with Dec. 1 as a contingency.
The Russell Library Executive Committee voted unanimously to allow the library director to close the building for a short lobby renovation funded with federal ARPA money.
The chair moved and the committee approved authorization for the director to close the library the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving (proposed Nov. 29–30) and, if necessary, Sunday, Dec. 1, to remove an out‑of‑date circulation desk, replace worn carpeting and install new furniture.
The vote followed a presentation by the Library Director, who said, “we received $250,000 in ARPA money, towards a lobby refresh project” that will replace a 1983 circulation desk that is not ADA compatible and that the carpeting appears to be more than 20 years old. The director told trustees the lobby work likely requires a full building closure because there is no alternate ADA entrance that would allow simultaneous public access.
Trustees discussed timing and staff scheduling. The director noted the carpeting contractor is available the weekend after Thanksgiving and recommended taking advantage of low public traffic on that weekend. Trustees pressed about staff pay and how the union schedules Sundays; the director said the library’s union circulates Sunday work by seniority and that overtime considerations mean the committee must give the union as much advance notice as possible.
Trustee Andy seconded the motion and the committee approved it unanimously. The committee instructed the director to confirm scheduling details with the flooring contractor and the union, and to publicize the temporary closure widely to patrons.
The director said the project will also include replacing furniture and rearranging the lobby to improve accessibility and patron interaction with staff. The committee noted plans to include the larger building‑maintenance needs in a future discussion of long‑term capital work.
The committee’s next procedural steps are to finalize contractor availability and staffing arrangements and to announce the closure dates to the public.
