Westport Library Board Elects Officers, Approves Art Policy and Mobile Printing Upgrade

WESTPORT -- May 11, 2026, Westport Library trustees reorganized leadership and approved a new art exhibit policy and mobile printing upgrade at their May 11 meeting. The board unanimously elected Laura as chair, Polly as vice chair, and Melissa as secretary, then reconstituted a long-dormant finance committee with two trustee volunteers to help track costs spread across multiple budget accounts. Library Director Bonnie presented a mobile printing and faxing service through the library's existing Envisionware contract, projecting the roughly $25-per-month faxing fee would be offset by the library's existing print revenue, which ran just under $2,000 in fiscal year 2024. The board approved a new standalone art exhibit policy for the Manton Room, amending it on the spot to add language calling for a suggested donation of 10 percent of artwork sales. The most consequential financial discussion involved the library's two HVAC units, one from 1979, with a conventional gas replacement quoted at $120,000 and a green mini-split system at $581,000, partially offset by a $250,000 grant the library may not reach until fiscal year 2028. A letter from Westport resident Thomas F. Fredo requesting library support for a Town Poet Laureate position was tabled to the June 8 meeting.