Hadley Library Trustees Approve One-Year Director Contract Amid Budget Uncertainty

HADLEY — April 14, 2026 — Hadley Library Trustees renew director's contract for one year, citing town budget uncertainty. The board, meeting April 14, voted unanimously on several housekeeping measures, including eliminating the board chair's wet-signature requirement on Library Director Patrick's timesheets in favor of electronic submission — a change prompted by Jennifer Sanders-James, the town's procurement officer. Trustees also voted to close the library on Saturday, July 4, 2026, the actual Independence Day, even though Friday, July 3 is the town-observed paid holiday; staff wishing to be off Saturday will use vacation time. The director reported a record average of 130 patron visits per day in March — up roughly 18 percent over the prior year — while flagging new water infiltration in the local history room and office area and a stalled LEED certification effort; designer Phil O'Brien has said the building cannot accumulate enough certification points without rooftop solar panels, and a $100,000 incentive grant tied to the application faces a May 1 deadline.