Waltham Library trustees back additional spending on materials

The Waltham Public Library trustees agreed on a motion to support a recommendation to allocate $70,000 from state aid funds for additional library materials at their Oct. 8 meeting.

Waltham Library Director Kelly Linehan said the library has approximately $286,000 in available state aid. The library can use the money for books, digital resources, technology, equipment, programming and other library needs.

With book prices and processing costs continuing to rise, the additional funding will help the library maintain purchasing power, add copies of popular titles, strengthen high-use collections and replace worn materials, according to Linehan.

The State Aid to Public Libraries program, administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, provides annual funding to municipal libraries that meet certain state requirements, including minimum local funding levels and standards for library services.

Unlike money appropriated through the city’s annual budget, unused state aid can be carried over from one fiscal year to the next. The funds are maintained in a separate account, allowing libraries to accumulate money for future purchases and other needs.

In other meeting news:

• The Library Initiative for Teens and Tweens awarded Waltham a $17,500 REAL Talk grant for 2026-2027. The program gives teenagers a place to discuss issues important to them, develop leadership skills and connect with other young people. LITT cited the Waltham library’s “creative, affirming programming and approach to teen library services” in an email to Lauren Flocco, teen department head.
• September saw the highest number of library checkouts and renewals for that month in the past six years.
• Participation in the summer reading program reached an all-time high, up 23.5% from 2023, while the library recorded a record 25,000 visits each month. The Bookmobile was cited as a key factor in that success.
• A part-time custodian position is open. Interested applicants can apply online through the City of Waltham’s job opportunities page.