Supporting our library through policy, advocacy, and trustee development work

I'm a regular visitor to the Brookline Village branch with my kids. I am consistently in awe at the diversity of programming and services that our libraries offer. Our public libraries are an invaluable resource and in 2023 I first ran to serve as a Library Trustee because I wanted to help them fulfill their work in serving our community. Read on to learn more about my work as a Trustee and what I hope to accomplish in my second 3-year term.

Policy

One of the most impactful roles of the Library Trustees is in setting our library policies. In 2023-2024 I chaired the board's Policy Committee and I have continued to serve on the board's new Library Functions Committee that replaced the Policy Committee. I've been proud to support several new policies that make our library more welcoming, accessible, and inclusive.

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Ending late fines

I was proud to vote to end the practice of collecting late fines for overdue library materials. Removing fines makes the library more equitable and accessible by reducing an economic barrier that disproportionately impacts low income or racial minority library patrons.

Making meeting rooms free

I voted to remove rental fees for library meeting rooms, including Hunneman Hall. The library is a public space and should be free and open to everyone. Our meeting rooms are now free for individuals or groups to use to host events that are of a civic, educational, or cultural nature and are free and open to the public.

Pride flag display

I voted to ask the library director to display the LGBTQ+ pride flag and Black Lives Matter banner outside the library during June. These symbols advertise the library's programming but also send an important message of support and inclusion to our staff and wider community.

Advocacy

Advocating for our library, our staff, and our budget is an important part of a Library Trustee's work. I have served on the board's advocacy committee since 2025 and have attended town finance committee meetings in support of our library budget. I have also researched recent trends in our library funding and the fraction of the overall town budget that is allocated to the library.

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Our library budget has failed to keep up with even modest inflation. For FY27 the library budget is expected to increase by just ~1%, and over the past decade the library budget has increased by less than 2% per year on average.

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Over the past decade the library's share of the town operating budget has decreased from ~1.75% to ~1.1%. The town has more significantly increased spending in other departments like public safety and public works.

We are the 4th busiest library in the state by circulation but we receive only the 6th largest municipal appropriation amount (according to 2025 data from the MBLC). On a per-capita basis we receive the 75th highest municipal appropriation ($74.12), which is comparable to Newton and Boston but significantly lower than some of our peer communities like Wellesley ($103.99), Lexington ($105.10), and Cambridge ($122.38).

Trustee Development

This year (2025-2026) I have chaired the Trustee Development Committee, which is tasked with making recommendations to the full board, then implementing action items, to promote an effective board. This work includes onboarding new Trustees by pairing them with mentors and taking them on tours of our library facilities.

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Looking Forward

I'm running for re-election to continue working to make our library better. The library is about to embark on a new strategic plan and I want to make sure that the strategic plan meets the needs of our community, including by:

expanding language access in our materials and programs
increasing efforts to bring library resources out into the community, such as through a bookmobile, partnerships with community organizations, and other efforts to serve individuals who can't physically make it to a library branch
developing clear policies about the library's use of AI, including in our collections, that rely on best professional practices and are clearly communicated to patrons
offering programs and materials that reflect the diversity of our community

I'd be honored to have your vote on May 5. I hope you'll also support my friend Amy Newell who is also running for a seat on the board and will bring to the board a passion for libraries and free information, a strong understanding of Brookline's local government, and a commitment to equity & inclusion.

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