NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city has applied for a Massachusetts Historical Commission grant to make structural repairs to the library.

 

Library Director Mindy Hackner told the trustees Wednesday that Building Inspector William Meranti and architect Thomas Bartels visited the library again on Feb. 21 and the city sent out the application March 24.

 

"I spoke with them briefly and I gave them some archival information," Hackner said. "I haven’t heard anything back from the city yet."

 

Last year, Hackner informed the city that there are structural issues with the library that were never addressed in the renovation done a dozen years ago. Earlier this year, Mayor Richard Alcombright committed to start looking at the repairs needed as well as other deferred maintenance issues. 

 

Hackner said the city also met another one of her requests and the Department of Public Works was out a few days ago replacing lights in the parking lot.

 

In other business, Hackner thanked the Friends of the Library for the thousands of dollars' worth of purchases it agreed to make for the library.  

 

"The Friends met and they were incredibly gracious," she said. "It is hard to ask for some of these things but it really ups the perception of the library." 

 

This includes money for four concerts, reading programming, a volunteer dinner, museum passes, workshops, funds to continue employees' education, new computer chairs and money to help develop an app.   

 

"It won't be very fancy ... but it will have all of the activity of our website but with the press of a finger," Hackner said of the app.

 

She also submitted a budget of $330,000 to the city and the auditor came back with a budget of $335,000.

 

"So we are in good shape and as it comes up with the Finance Committee, I will let the trustees know," she said. "Our circulation is up, our door count is up and things are happening."