Great Barrington Library Board of Trustees Meeting - February 11, 2026

The Great Barrington Library Board of Trustees met on February 11, 2026, at 5:30 PM. The meeting covered the library director's report on the budget and staffing, a substantial review of the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with its affiliated organizations, an update on the Ramsdale Library renovation project, feedback on town tax proposals, and a strategy session regarding the tabled Community Preservation Committee (CPC) grant application.

Consent Calendar

• The board unanimously approved the meeting minutes from January 7, 2026, as amended to reflect the absence of trustee Lauren Clark.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public offered testimony during the formal public comment portion of the meeting.

Discussion Items

• Library Director's Report: Director Don reported on the budget review with Town Manager Liz Hartzgroves, noting potential line increases and that union negotiations beginning February 27 will delay filling the vacant position until at least May. The board discussed utilizing Mass Library System (MLS) bibliotemps to address cataloging backlogs. An update was provided on the March 8th screening of "The Librarian" at the Triplex.
• Chair's Update & Affiliate Reports: Chair Dawn noted the Town Manager is seeking the board's feedback on the Residential Tax Exemption (RTE) and Seasonal Communities Designation. The board reviewed written reports from the Friends and Library Fund. A significant discussion occurred regarding the historical archives stored at Ramsdale; the board concluded the primary responsibility lies with the Historical Commission and Town Manager, not the Library Trustees. Trustee Pat Hollandbeck alerted the board to a $100,000 matching Massachusetts Historical Preservation grant opportunity with a March 13 deadline, which will be forwarded to the Town Manager.
• Ramsdale Design Review: The Ramsdale design review scored 229 out of 288, with an adequacy score of 8 out of 9. The project is waitlisted for state funding. Chair Dawn detailed plans for community tours and a town manager-initiated video tour to build public support.
• CPC Grant Application: The library's CPC application for Ramsdale was tabled. Chair Dawn will contact CPC administrator Chris Randall to clarify the process for moving forward. Draft Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) were distributed for trustee feedback.
• Draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): The board conducted a detailed review of the draft MOU between the Library, Trustees, Friends, and Library Fund. Agreed edits included removing language implying library staff would set up for affiliate events, clarifying that web links must direct users to the affiliate's general home page (not directly to payment portals), and specifying that storage space is limited and must be mutually agreed upon. The board emphasized that the library must control the brand and public messaging. Trustees Ruby and Sharon were tasked with finalizing the document in coordination with the Ramsdale Building Advisory Committee (RBAC).
• Tax Proposals: Trustees expressed significant concerns about the RTE, viewing it as potentially divisive and harmful to the donor base and community vitality. The board was more favorable to the Seasonal Communities Designation, seeing it as a flexible tool for attainable housing and staff retention.

Key Outcomes

• The board approved the January 7th meeting minutes as amended.
• The board unanimously appropriated $1,710 from Mason donations for the library legislative breakfast, expecting a $1,500 reimbursement.
• The Director will explore MLS bibliotemps for temporary cataloging help.
• Ruby and Sharon will lead the finalization of the MOU and alignment with the RBAC.
• The Chair will meet with the CPC administrator to clarify next steps for the tabled application.
• The Town Manager will receive the board's synthesized feedback on the RTE and Seasonal Communities proposals.