WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Big changes have come to the Milne Public Library as the Main Street institution celebrates its 150th year.

 

Milne Trustees vice chair Jared Della Rocca appeared before the Select Board on Tuesday to detail some of the new initiatives that expand both the library's mission and its access to the community.

 

One of the most noticeable changes is that the library's doors are, effectively, open six more hours per week.

 

In past years, the library has been open until 8 p.m. only one day per week, Wednesdays. Now, the Milne's doors are open until 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.

 

And every day, the library has begun admitting patrons right up until closing time, Della Rocca told the board. In past years, the practice was to not admit patrons 10 minutes before the closing time. That effectively adds 10 minutes of access, six days per week – or a full hour over the course of a week, he said.

 

And those patrons have more reasons than ever to visit the town's public library.

 

"Thanks to the Friends of the Library, the library is operating an innovative 'library of things,' " Della Rocca said.

 

Cardholders can check out items ranging from camping equipment to games to household tools.

 

"The 'Thingdom' gives you the opportunity to come in, try different projects, and see if you want to invest in them or to finish a DIY project without investing in new tools," Della Rocca said.

 

One of the Milne's newest initiatives is designed to provide residents with items on a more permanent basis.

 

"The library is sharing a partnership with Remedy Hall," Della Rocca said, referring to the non-profit community resource center that operates out of the First Congregational Church. "There will be two satellite areas – one in the front alcove and one in the teen area.

 

"The usage of the library not just for information but as a community resource … extends the library out into the community and brings the community into the library."

 

The president of the Friends of Milne Public Library, who joined Della Rocca on Monday, elaborated on that point.

 

"It's not just taking out a book anymore," Pam Art said. "It's so far from that.

 

"The staff provide personalized information with questions on everything from tax information to town calendars and other other events. Plus we provide access to all these incredible online networks at the library. … The library is the largest publicly available building in town, available every day except Sunday. It's warm in the winter, cool in the summer. There's free WiFi. And now there's free coffee and tea."

 

Art said the Friends, a non-profit that raises money to provide non-operational support to the library, has 240 paid household members and is supported by volunteers who work 60 full shifts per week at its second-hand bookstore on Spring Street. That volunteer workforce includes students from both Williams College and Mount Greylock Regional School, who help with the store operation and sorting of donated materials. It has been more than five years since the Friends' store, Chapter Two Books, replaced the non-profit's annual two-day spring used book sale at Williamstown Elementary School.

 

Della Rocca and Art addressed the board at the outset of Tuesday's meeting, before a two-hour interview and debate among Select Board members that ended in the appointment of Matt Neely to an interim seat on the board.

 

The protracted discussion led Chair Jane Patton to defer much of the board's agenda to its next meeting on Oct. 7.

 

But the board did have the energy to appoint a resident to represent tenants on the Williamstown Housing Authority.

 

Paula McKenna and Terry M. Saunders-Boucher, both residents of the Meadowvale Apartments, applied for the open seat. They patiently waited out the deliberations over which of three applicants would serve for seven months on the Select Board before explaining why each would be a good fit on the Housing Authority board.

 

"I think that I could give some input having lived there," said McKenna, who has lived in the complex for seven years. "I know most of the residents. I'm a senior myself, and I plan to live there the rest of my life."

 

Saunders-Boucher described herself as a "newbie," having moved to Meadowvale in April. But she talked about how her background in business administration and human relations could help her serve the Housing Authority.

 

The Select Board members, coming off a difficult decision on the interim appointment to their own panel, appeared at a loss for a way to choose between two qualified applicants for the Housing Authority slot.

 

"Holy smokes," Stephanie Boyd said. "Do we draw straws or something?"

 

Saunders-Boucher gave them a lifeline.

 

"I'll make it easy for you," she said, returning to the podium. "She's been there eight years. I'll have my chance. She knows the people better."

 

The Select Board then quickly voted, 4-0, to appoint McKenna to the vacancy.

 

In other business on Tuesday, Town Manager Robert Menicocci informed the board and the town that work soon will begin in earnest on the new Williams College Museum of Art, which is being erected on the former site of the Williams Inn just west of town hall.

 

For visitors to the Municipal Building on North Street, this means that the former drive off Main Street that served both the inn and town hall parking lot will be closed off as part of the construction site.

 

Menicocci said that the town plans to install a drive around the south side of town hall to maintain emergency vehicle access to the back of the building, but, for the time being, the only access to the back parking lot is the narrow drive on the north side of the Municipal Building that will be forced to provide ingress and egress. Menicocci advised caution when driving on the site.

 

The large, U-shaped driveway in the front of town hall continues to serve as usual with adequate parking for visitors during business hours and the upcoming early voting period that commences on Oct. 19 at 9 a.m.