Why do you want to serve on the Board of Library Trustees?
I have been honored to serve on the Board of Library Trustees for the past nine years and I am running for re-election because I love the library and want it to continue to thrive. As the only incumbent trustee running for re-election and longest serving current board member, I think my experience will be useful on the Board going forward.
Tell voters about your background and qualifications for being a Library Trustee.
I grew up in Portland, Maine and moved to Watertown 20 years ago with my husband Evan. We have raised our two teenagers here, sending them to Watertown Public Schools. Before becoming a trustee, I was an enthusiastic library patron and served on the library’s long-range steering committee. I sought appointment to an open seat on the board in 2016 and was elected to my first full term in 2017. My professional background is in the law. I graduated from BC Law and practiced commercial real estate law for many years. My legal experience comes in handy in my work as a trustee. I have served as chair of the Board of Trustees for the past five years, gaining valuable leadership skills and institutional knowledge.
How can the Watertown Library better serve residents of Watertown?
During the library’s strategic planning process, residents expressed that they want more study and meeting rooms, as well as dedicated space on the first floor for adults to browse. Adding meeting rooms will require a building expansion. Trustees have long advocated for library expansion into the former police station. We need to continue advocating to city leaders for an expanded library with more meeting and study rooms, as well as a home for Hatch Makerspace. I have closely followed the city’s Watertown Square planning process and will continue to advocate for library expansion as a key part of the future revitalization of Watertown Square.
While library expansion is a long term goal, in the short term, I support addressing the public’s request for space on the first floor for adults to browse. This could be achieved with a redesign of the lobby and circulation desk area. Initiating a lobby redesign is one of the goals set forth in the library’s Strategic Plan and if re-elected I will push for action on this goal to make the lobby a more welcoming and engaging space for all.
The Library may face funding issues in coming months and years. How can the library maintain and even add services in difficult economic times?
First, Library trustees and patrons need to advocate to city and state leaders for full funding. The library provides important services to our community, the need for which will only increase during an economic downturn. In addition to advocacy, the library should seek alternate funding sources, through grants or direct fundraising. Fortunately, the library already has a 501(c)(3) Building Fund administered by the Library Building Committee. If you have ever donated or purchased used books from the library, you were supporting the work of the Building Committee. The money raised supports library programming and special projects. I want to reinvigorate and seek more volunteers for the Building Committee in order to increase fundraising efforts.
We can also find creative ways to improve library services that do not require additional funds. For instance, one community request is to open for longer on Sundays. We are currently open 1-5:00 on Sundays. Increased hours would definitely require more money. However, patrons expressed a preference for visiting the library on Sunday mornings. Is it feasible to shift Sunday hours to 10-2:00 or 11-3:00? It’s something to explore. Similarly, teens recently asked to have more input into teen department offerings, which resulted in the formation of a teen advisory committee. Direct input and engagement from teens will improve teen services without necessarily increasing costs.
Looking at recent events when a group of residents had a disagreement about the Watertown Summer Reading list, and said they did not feel like there was a way to be heard by the Library — do you think the Library administration and Board of Trustees handled the issue appropriately, and would you like to see similar issues handled differently if they arise in the future?
As trustee chair, I was involved in the library’s handling of requests to remove a book from the 2025 WPS K-5 Suggested Summer Reading List. I can assure you that (i) the library director promptly replied to each request and answered follow-up emails further explaining the library’s position and (ii) the trustees addressed the issue at our meeting on July 31st, after receiving an enormous amount of email throughout the month. The library director and the board of trustees handled this matter appropriately in accordance with library policy and board procedure. I disagree with the claim that there was no opportunity for residents to be heard by the library.
In her initial response to residents, the library director explained that while she could not remove the book from this year’s already-published list, she would take their feedback into consideration when compiling next year’s summer reading lists. Librarians will do that in December when they start selecting books for summer 2026. Before that process begins, there should be a meeting between library and school administration to discuss each of their processes for choosing and approving the suggested summer reading list books and how each organization should respond to any future complaints.
During your campaign, what was the biggest issue or concern for voters when you spoke to them about the Library?
By far the most frequent feedback I have gotten from residents is how much they love and appreciate the library. As for issues, I often hear that the library can be too loud. Noise from the first floor carries upstairs. Fixing this would require significant construction, so it cannot be addressed until we move forward with an expansion. In the meantime, I find the reading room upstairs to be the best spot for quiet study (and ear plugs or head phones help too).
I want to thank Watertown News for its coverage of the local election. I appreciate the opportunity to reach voters through this format. To all who have read this Q & A–thank you and thanks for engaging in the democratic process! Please remember to vote on or before November 4th!