Library Board Amends Fundraiser Policy After Debate

Library · Meeting of October 27, 2026

SHREWSBURY — The Shrewsbury Library Board of Trustees approved a revised fundraiser and collection-drive policy and reviewed a cybersecurity incident that shut down computer access for days. Library Director Priya detailed how a phishing email sent from her own account triggered a town IT-led network shutdown affecting both staff and public computers; technicians, identified as librarians Holly and Jess, reinstalled software library-wide. Trustees debated and then reversed a proposed "if applicable" softening of a rule requiring proof of nonprofit status from groups seeking to hold fundraisers or collection drives, ultimately voting unanimously to require the documentation outright.

One member asked, "So does that mean we would approve a fake sale for a profit purpose?" The board also approved a $1,200 annual stipend for the Memory Cafe coordinator and $2,610 in state aid for the library's fiscal year 2026 annual report. The library's Foundation gala, held October 23 and attended by Congressman Jim McGovern and state Senator Michael Moore, had not yet reported final fundraising totals.

In the full story:

• Director's Report and Memory Cafe Milestone
• Programs and Services: Attendance and Interlibrary Loan Policy
• Financial and Legislative: State Aid and Fiscal Year 2028 Action Plan
• Facility, Equipment and Grounds: Cybersecurity Incident Report
• Gifts and Grants, and Foundation Gala Update
• Personnel Subcommittee and Friends of the Library
• Policy Review: Third-Party Fundraisers and Collection Drives
• Miscellaneous: State Aid Expenditures
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 1,966 words

Source: the Library meeting of October 27, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.