September is Library Card Sign-up Month in Pittsfield

08:48AM / Monday, August 25, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — During the month of September, residents can show their Berkshire Athenaeum library card at participating local businesses for discounts and freebies.

Those in need of a library card can sign up or renew at the Berkshire Athenaeum. When doing this, patrons will also receive a raffle ticket for a $50 Downtown Pittsfield Gift Card or a free Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum membership.

Participating businesses include:

413 Shirts
Ayelada
Berkshire Art Center
Berkshire Fitness & Wellness Center
Berkshire Music School
Berkshire Thistle 'n Thorn Floral
Garden Blossoms Florist
Hot Harry's Burritos
Hot Plate Brewing Co.
Mana Crypt Gaming Center
Marie's North Street Eatery & Gallery
Nene's Deco
On Pointe Barre & Fitness
Sally Tiska Rice Art Studio
Solarium Plant Shop (Opening this September!)
WANDER Berkshires

This promotion is a collaboration with Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. and is made possible through the contributions of the Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum.

A brochure listing the discounts offered is available at Athenaeum service desks and online at www.downtownpittsfield.com and www.pittsfieldlibrary.org.

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If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Rename

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:11PM / Tuesday, October 13, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The conversation about the DEI office renaming that was halted by a charter objection will resume on Tuesday.

The City Council will discuss a request from Mayor Peter Marchetti to rename the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

It proposes to rename the DEI office to the Office of Equity, Access, and Opportunity and merge the Human Rights Commission and Affirmative Action Committee into an Equity, Access and Opportunity Commission.

The Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee supported the changes in August, and in September, Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham delayed the vote with a charter objection.

Pittsfield's City Code prohibits charter states that "if a single member present objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of the city council." It also stipulates that at least four members must object if it is an emergency measure.

Cunningham also submitted a petition, which was referred to O&R under Rule 27, to replace the DEI Office and the Human Rights Commission with an equity, access, and opportunity coordinator in the Department of Community Development, with formal complaints and Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action functions assigned to Human Resources.

At the last meeting, he spent more than an hour querying the mayor and chief diversity officer about functions and effectiveness of the department, wanting more quantitative data. Cunningham proposed an ordinance that he says keeps Pittsfield's commitment to equity, access, and opportunity, "refocuses it on measurable results for our residents, and delivers it at a fraction of the current cost."

Under this petition, the equity, access, and opportunity coordinator would be a $60,000 to $80,000 per year position.

The DEI Office's fiscal year 2027 budget was about $200,000 after cuts during budget season; $106,700 for the chief diversity officer and $58,000 for the administrative assistant. The coordinator would be appointed by the director of community development and the mayor.

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