Adams Library Needs New Computers

ADAMS, Mass. — The Adams Free Library will seek funding to replace its aging public computers.

Library Director Holli Jayko told the trustees Thursday that the public computers in the adult reading room and the children's reading room are now 9 years old.

"We should replace them before they stop working. They are updated but they are getting slower," she said. "New technology would be better for our patrons."

The library would be looking to replace eight machines at a cost of $500 to $750 a piece. Jayko said there is no money for this built into the budget and if she were to purchase them immediately, she would most likely have to pull from state aid and other accounts.

But she thought the computers could survive another year and she may be able to get the new machines in the fiscal 2020 budget.

Jayko was not looking for a motion but said she just wanted it on the trustees' radar. 

"I don't need an answer now, but I want you to think about it," she said. "I won't order until I have talked to everyone again and figure out how we are going to pay for it."

In other business, the trustees voted to allow Jayko to use up to $700 in state aid to purchase 40 energy-efficient LED light bulbs to replace older lights that are burning out.

"We would like to go ahead and replace the lights with LED when they fail," she said. "It is an improvement to the library and there will be as cost savings in the long run."

Jayko specifically said many of the lights in the children's room are starting to burn out.

She said individually the large LED, or light-emitting diode, bulbs are $21 but by buying in bulk she can get them for $15. Forty bulbs would cost $600 and $50 to ship.

The trustees also voted to make a small change to the mobile hotspot lending policy and instead of lending the hotspots out for a maximum of three days, patrons can take them out for a week at a time with one renewal.

"Since it is in our policy attached to our form I have to bring this to you guys," Jayko said. "People started to borrow them and got used to us having them and we have noticed that people need them a little bit longer."

The library implemented the program a year ago and currently, there are five hotspots in rotation.

Bishop said the library's flagpole has been taken down to be repainted and cleaned up.

"The Fire Department took it down," he said. "Right now we are in the process of stripping p[aint We are going to put a new bulb on it, new paint, new flag — the works. I have no idea the last time it was done."

Trustee Brian Bishop said Ashley Swift will perform boiler maintenance in September. He added that boiler return piping also needs some work.

"It leaks and has patches on it," he said.

He said Ashley Swift offered to make the repair for $3,700, however, Bishop thought this was a little steep. He said he will look at other options and try to negotiate a better price.

Jayko said the library posted a soon-to-be-vacated part-time position and she is currently looking through applications for a library aid cataloger. 

"We have begun the application process and I have been reviewing applications," she said. 

Adams Town Meeting OKs Budget, Nixes Citizens' Petitions

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires.com
07:30PM / Monday, June 22, 2026

The annual town report was dedicated to retired Police Chief Richard Tarsa, above. 

ADAMS, Mass. — Town meeting members approved 23 of the 25 articles on the annual town meeting warrant. 

 

The gymnasium in the Memorial Building was filled with 104 town meeting members who voted to approve the authorization for a number of spending articles making up a budget of approximately $21 million during a meeting that lasted 50 minutes. 

 

Of that, members approved, Article 5, an operations budget of $10,650,057, of which $8,074,370 is made up of personnel and $2,642,107 for operating expenses. 

 

"This is a level of services budget from one year ago," Town Administrator Nicholas Caccamo said. 

 

The amounts budgeted are reflective of what it takes for an organization, pay employees, provide health insurance, and all the ancillary costs, he said. 

 

The town has not yet finalized union contract negotiations with the police and clerical unions and still has open positions. So, there will be a special town meeting in late September or early October to adjust the budget based on the salaries and health insurance.

 

The positions have been conservatively budgeted at previous rates, maintaining each staff member's prior step or grade, as if the roles were filled full time.