cohassetnewsThe June 24 meeting covered pavilion construction changes, end-of-year library spending, new technology resources, outreach to older residents, and the need for a clearer space-use agreement with the Recreation Department.
Key points
- The outdoor pavilion is nearing completion but is running about $19,000 over the original bid.
- Trustees approved board officers and end-of-fiscal-year bills, while minutes approval was tabled.
- The library received a state technology grant for 25 laptops and five tablets.
- Library leaders plan to seek a written agreement with Recreation over shared summer camp space.
The Paul Pratt Memorial Library Board of Trustees met Wednesday, June 24, at the library for a wide-ranging meeting that touched on the outdoor pavilion project, fiscal-year spending, library grants, outreach to older and homebound residents, and scheduling conflicts with summer Recreation programming.
Votes and Board Business
The board tabled approval of the prior meeting minutes after realizing it did not have a quorum of trustees who had attended that earlier meeting.
Trustees unanimously endorsed Catherine Harvey to continue as board chair and Brooke Jewell to continue as clerk. The board also approved the library’s end-of-fiscal-year bills by unanimous roll-call vote, with Stephen Brown, Harvey, Susan Hobson Putziger, Alex Viteri, and Elaine Breslow voting yes.
Melissa Mendenhall was formally welcomed as the newest trustee. Library Director Bronwyn Asplund also attended the meeting.
Pavilion Timeline and Parking
Asplund reported that the outdoor pavilion is nearing completion, though the project is running about $19,000 over the original bid because of modifications.
To allow the pavilion to be used this summer, the library chose to install sod immediately rather than use hydroseeding, which would have required people to stay off the grass for a longer period.
A planned retaining wall near the parking lot was dropped after the library learned its height would make it a hazard requiring a railing, adding roughly $30,000 to the project. Instead, the landscaping will slope down into the parking area.
“Unfortunately, we’ll lose a couple of parking spaces, but there didn’t seem to be any other logical solution to the problem,” Asplund said.
Budget Pressure and Grant Funding
The end of the fiscal year prompted a broader discussion about how the library handles remaining town budget funds. Asplund said the town encourages departments to return unspent money, but she argued the library should be able to use remaining allocations for real needs, such as replacing failing desk chairs.
“When you’re being responsible, there shouldn’t be a penalty for being responsible,” Asplund said. “I don’t feel like we should be losing out on things that we really need because another department busted through their budget.”
Trustees also discussed the library’s reliance on outside support, including a $100,000 grant from the Cohasset Library Trust for the pavilion and $15,000 from the Friends of the Library for outdoor furniture.
Viteri asked whether the availability of outside grants may shape how town officials view the library budget. Asplund said there is “no doubt” that perception exists, adding that the town is unlikely to fund everything the library needs.
Senior Outreach and Technology Access
Trustees spent significant time discussing how to improve library access for elderly, homebound, disabled, or disconnected residents.
The conversation included possible use of mobile hotspots and referrals to Perkins School for the Blind audio resources for residents with visual or hearing difficulties and limited home internet access.
Asplund also announced that the library secured a state technology grant that will provide 25 laptops and five tablets. The devices are expected to support public programming and help staff provide hands-on technical assistance to patrons.
The director also described a longer-term goal of launching a bookmobile that could issue library cards and check out materials in parts of town that are farther from the library, including areas such as Sandy Beach.
Space Use With Recreation
The board discussed continuing scheduling conflicts between the library’s free public programming and the Recreation Department’s summer camp use of shared spaces, including the West Wing and the outdoor tent.
Asplund said Recreation sometimes books space as a backup in case campers need to move indoors, which can prevent the library from scheduling its own events. The library plans to meet with Recreation leadership to establish a written agreement for shared space use.
Viteri encouraged an empathetic approach to the conversation, noting the different pressures each department faces. Asplund agreed, saying the library needs to preserve a productive relationship with Recreation because the departments share a building and collaborate on many programs.
Vending Machine Prices
In a lighter moment, Viteri relayed a complaint from his 9-year-old son about the vending machine price for Skittles, which was listed at $3.45.
Asplund said the vending company recently changed ownership and raised prices. The library receives a percentage of quarterly sales, but the vendor controls pricing and product selection. Trustees agreed to look into alternative local vendors when the contract comes up for renewal in February.
Watch the meeting
Watch the full Paul Pratt Memorial Library Board of Trustees meeting from June 24, 2026 on the Town of Cohasset’s YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/ozRTpoRYKBM?si=UyMv1duSLkZ_iokS
