Library Board Preps Budget For Bigger Branch

Library · Meeting of May 27, 2026

Worcester Public Library trustees were told next year's budget must cover a much bigger Great Brook Valley branch. Library Executive Director Jason told the board construction is on schedule, with a planned library build-out of just under 4,200 square feet, including about 2,700 square feet of public space, and said the board must revisit its staffing model in December. Jason also reported circulation fell for the first time since he took the job, blaming the collapse of a major book distributor and rising e-book costs, which now make up roughly a third of circulation.

Separately, the library's bid to buy the digitized Worcester Telegram & Gazette archive advanced after negotiators cut the price from $1.2 million to just under $700,000, with the Worcester Public Library Foundation applying to four local foundations for grants by a May 15 deadline. Board Chair Stephanie Pasha was named a recipient of the American Library Association's Trustee Citation.

In the full story:

• The Full Story
• Why It Matters
• Key Motions & Votes
• Source
• Worcester's community access TV: Worcester Public Library Board of Directors meeting, May 27, 2026
• The complete report: 847 words

Source: the Library meeting of May 27, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.