NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The library is partially open now for browsing and patrons can schedule visits by appointment.
"I don't know how normal it will be, and it might be a little weird," Library Director Sarah Sanfilippo said at last weeks meeting of the trustees. "But it will be great to just have voices and faces in the library again."
After completely closing in the early days of the pandemic, the library switched to curbside pickup for most of the last year. It continued to expand services and allowed patrons to use the computers by appointment.
With more residents becoming vaccinated, opening up the doors a little wider is the next step.
"People will be able to schedule a time slot like in a museum," Sanfilippo said. "We will limit the number of people so we can actually let people pick out their own books again."
She said this is the fifth step in the library's six-step reopening plan.
The time slots will be open Monday through Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. There will be four half-hour slots during this time and four open spots for individuals.
The children's section will be open to a single family at a time Monday through Wednesday.
Patrons are asked to enter through the main entrance where they will check in and are asked to be on time so they do not disrupt the schedule.
Only browsing is allowed and computer use is still by a separate appointment. Patrons are asked not to sit.
Sanfilippo said mask-wearing and social distancing will still be required.
"It is just like going to the market," she said.
Sanfilippo said the library will still offer curbside pickup.
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Clarksburg Gets 3 Years of Free Cash Certified
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Town officials have heaved a sigh of relief with the state's certification of free cash for the first time in more than three years.
The town's parade of employees through its financial offices the past few years put it behind on closing out its fiscal years between 2021 and 2023. A new treasurer and two part-time accountants have been working the past year in closing the books and filing with the state.
Some $231,000 in stabilization was used last year to reduce the tax rate — draining the account. The town's had minimal reserves for the past nine months.
Chairman Robert Norcross said he didn't want residents to think the town was suddenly flush with cash.
"We have to keep in mind that we have no money in the stabilization fund and we now have a free cash, so we have now got to replenish that account," he said. "So it's not like we have this money to spend ... most of it will go into the stabilization fund."
The account's been hit several times over the past few fiscal years in place of free cash, which has normally been used for capital spending, to offset the budget and to refill stabilization. Free cash was last used in fiscal 2020.
Officers Nicholas Lillie, Steven Wandrei, Nannette Reid and Elizabeth Zipp joined the force as full-time officers; Lillie and Wandrei recently graduated from the Police Academy.
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The proposal is to reconstruct some of the dry-laid stone retaining with new cast-in-place concrete and to relocated the existing drainage and stabilize the slope. The runoff will be tied into the storm drainage system at the bottom along State Street.
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The Airport Commission voted to re-release the request for proposals (RFP) for the airport restaurant space but only after the city formed a new and improved document. click for more