2025 Annual Report

The Library staff, Friends of the Orange Public Libraries, and Board of Trustees remain committed to preserving the library’s position as an essential institution in the Town of Orange. Despite budget cuts that put the Library’s State certification in danger, 2025 was marked by the continued delivery of diverse and impactful programs and services to the public, as well as many improvements to the Wheeler Memorial Library building. Summaries of the events in this very busy year follow below:

Budget

This year, the Library was tasked by the Finance Committee to submit both a “level services” budget request and a budget request that reflected an increase of under 2% for FY2026. At the time, this seemed promising for the Library; per the Commonwealth’s Municipal Appropriation Requirement (MAR) formula, we were on track to meet our MAR regardless of which budget request the Finance Committee approved. A MAR-compliant “level services” budget of $381,887, as well as a budget request of $382,125 that reflected a 1.9% increase over our FY2025 appropriation, were submitted to the Finance Committee by the January 3rd deadline.

However, at their March 17 meeting, the Finance Committee disclosed that department budget requests totalled $29,883,442 for FY2026 and that the final Town budget had to balance at $28,209,171. This meant that roughly $1.7 million might have to be cut across all Town departments, including the Library. In an attempt to preserve services, the Board of Selectmen scheduled a Proposition 2 and ½ override vote for June 23. The override did not pass. This left only a week to figure out an alternative solution to the budget crisis and pass the FY2026 budget.

At the Annual Town Meeting a few days later, a resident proposed that the town use all of its certified free cash in the next year’s budget. The Finance Committee then met the next day and succeeded in hastily crafting an "emergency" budget that level funded all Town departments - including the Library. This budget was then approved at Town Meeting with the understanding that all departments would need to review their appropriations at the start of FY2026 and make adjustments as needed.

It was soon discovered that, due to a quirk in how departmental expenditures are calculated at the end of each fiscal year, the Library had not been level funded for FY2026. Instead of a $375,000 level funded budget, only $373,452.89 was appropriated for FY2026. This happened because an article was submitted at the mid-year winter Special Town Meeting to pay two missing FY2024 invoices totalling $1,547.11 using money from the Library’s FY2025 budget. Once it was successfully voted at Town Meeting, $1,547.11 was retroactively and legally removed from the Library’s FY2025 budget. Therefore, the Town’s end of FY2025 balance sheets showed an adjusted Library budget appropriation of $373,452.89. This number was then used to determine the Library’s level funded budget at the emergency Finance Committee meeting.

Consequently, the library had to submit a request for a waiver of the Municipal Appropriation Requirement to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) in order to remain certified, receive State Aid money, and allow Orange residents to continue borrowing materials from other libraries in FY2026. The waiver was submitted on time, and the MBLC’s decision on whether to grant it would come in February 2026.

Staff and Board of Trustees

Due to the underfunding of the Library’s budget line for wages, hourly employees each lost 2 hours of pay a week commencing on November 2. As a result, the Libraries’ open hours were reduced to a total of 31 per week.

Trustee Christine Mullen resigned from the Board this year. Harry Veilleux was appointed to the Board of Trustees by the Board of Selectmen to finish Ms. Mullen’s term.

Friends of the Orange Public Libraries

The Friends of the Orange Public Libraries continue to generously support library programs for all ages and fund free passes to museums and other attractions that library patrons may borrow with their library card. In addition to funds raised at their annual book sale, the Friends recently received a donation through the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, which will substantially increase the number and quality of programs offered at the Orange Public Libraries. The Friends meet on the first Monday of every other month and are actively recruiting new members. Community members who might be interested in joining the Friends should contact the Library Director by email at director@orangelib.org or by calling 978-544-2495 x101.

Building Improvements

Flood damage to the Wheeler Memorial Library’s Children’s and Community Rooms was repaired this year. Other long-overdue improvements to the building were made as well. These were paid for using a $30,000 anonymous donation from an Orange resident, an insurance claim for the flooding, and State Aid money. Improvements to the Wheeler Memorial Library in 2025 include:

- Community Room and ground floor hallway carpet demo. Superior Floor Solutions of Belchertown, MA did this work.

- Painting of the Community Room and the Wheeler’s historic front lamp posts by N. W. Painting of Orange, MA.

- 3/4” was removed from the bottom of the wooden doors on the library's lower level to allow enough clearance for new carpeting. Ed Cope of Orange volunteered his time to do this work.

- Curtain drain installation at the bottom of the interior handicap access ramp to guard against future flooding. Flex Masonry of Athol performed this work.

- Repointing, repair, and cleaning of the steps leading up to the Wheeler Memorial Library’s main entrance by Flex Masonry of Athol.

- Abatement of the asbestos tile and mastic in the Children's Room by A&E Environmental Services of Westminster, MA. Confirmation of removal was performed by LeBlanc’s Environmental Services of Oxford, MA.

- Abatement of asbestos packing in the floor of the ground level hallway by A&E Environmental Services of Westminster. Confirmation of removal was performed by LeBlanc’s Environmental Services of Oxford, MA.

- Installation of new carpeting in the Children’s Room, Community Room, and ground floor hallway by Superior Floor Solutions of Belchertown, MA.

- Installation of wall paneling in the ground floor hallway by Superior Floor Solutions of Belchertown.

- Installation of a utility sink in the boiler room and repair of an outdoor hose spigot by Hohengasser Plumbing of Athol.

- Installation of a baby diaper changing station in the Community Room by library staff.

- Installation of flame retardant, insulating, and light blocking curtains in the Community Room by Budget Blinds of Auburn, MA.

- The tarps covering the leaks in the Wheeler Memorial Library’s roof were replaced by Hayden Roofing Company of Orange.

- Replacement of the window glass, installation of weatherstripping and an ADA compliant threshold, and installation of a commercial grade automatic door opener for the handicap access door by Advanced Glass and Mirror of Westminster, MA.

- Installation of outdoor illumination for the handicap access ramp, illuminated EXIT signs, and a motion sensing light fixture for the interior of the handicap access vestibule by SJL Electrical of Athol.

The following items were purchased for the ground floor hallway and Community Room:

- A commercial grade microwave from W.B. Mason

- A 90” x 48" wooden table on six casters from Demco. Castine Moving and Storage of Athol generously volunteered their time to unpack and move the table from the parking lot into the Community Room.

- 26 stacking chairs, a loveseat, and two armchairs from Demco

- Refrigerator from S&S Appliance

- A commercial grade 50-cup percolating coffee maker from Amazon

Improvements to the Moore Leland Library include:

- Rehabilitation of the damaged outdoor signboard. Orange’s Pam Harty kindly volunteered her time and resources to restore the sign at Launchspace in the Orange Innovation Center. The Library remains grateful for her generous donation and beautiful work.

- Painting of the book drop and the handrails of the front and rear entrances by N. W. Painting of Orange

Notes on future capital improvements:

- The board of selectmen voted to include $325,000 for the replacement of the Wheeler Memorial Library’s roof in the Town’s Community Development Block Grant application.

- Town meeting approved the re-appropriation of $138,000 set aside for repairs to the Armory’s roof to pay for the installation of a new drainage system around the Wheeler Memorial Library.

Policies and Services

The Board of Library Trustees approved three new Library Policies this year. These policies may be accessed at orangelib.org:

- Inclement Weather and Emergency Closing

- Photography and Video Recording

- Fines

The Library added a free faxing service this year. Patrons who wish to fax their documents should inquire at the adult circulation desk, and Library staff will offer assistance. Our home delivery service for homebound patrons continues.

Technology

Several improvements were made to the technology infrastructure of the Wheeler Memorial and Moore Leland libraries this year, including:

- The Wheeler Memorial Library’s broken server was replaced with a Network Attached Storage (NAS) unit.

- The Wheeler Memorial Library’s broken fax machine was replaced.

- Wheeler’s photocopier was replaced with a Ricoh brand copier, which, in addition to copying, allows patrons to scan their documents directly to their email.

- The computer at the Moore Leland Library’s circulation desk was replaced. The speed of patron service has dramatically increased there.

- New WiFi hotspots were installed at both libraries. Patrons' personal devices can now connect reliably in the Wheeler Memorial Library’s Children’s and Community Rooms, and the coverage in the parking lot is wider. The connection speed at the Moore Leland Library has been upgraded. Connections at both libraries are more reliable than ever and can be made both inside the building during open hours and outside of the library 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

- The Wheeler Memorial Library now utilizes Envisionware’s CloudNine reservation system for its patron computers. Patrons with a library card can begin a session without visiting the circulation desk. Patrons without a library card may request a guest pass at the circulation desks. If all computers are in use, patrons may make a reservation for the next available session. The default length of a session is 60 minutes.

Programming

Highlights of 2025’s library programs include:

- 12th annual Robert P Collen poetry competition

- Adult and Children’s Summer Reading programs

- How Not to Write a Novel with local author J.A. McIntosh

- Spring Fling Petting Zoo

- Flower Arranging at the Wheeler Memorial Library by The Florist at Gelinas

- Meet Your Neighbors Card Game Extravaganza for Seniors at the King James housing complex

- Weekly Knitting and Crocheting for all ages

- “Ask a Muslim Anything” with Robert Azzi

- Fire Prevention Month Touch a Fire Truck in cooperation with the Orange Fire Department

- Weekly LEGO Club for families

- Chapter Champions Book Club for young readers

- Baby and Toddler Morning Storytime and Playgroup

- Getting Started with Homeschooling

- Dungeons and Dragons Club for children 10 and up

- Polar Express Storytime and Stuffed Animal Sleepover

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Board of Library Trustees,

Jason Sullivan-Flynn, Library Director