MASSENA - At a special meeting this morning, The Massena Town Council decided the Massena Public Library will be temporarily closed effective Monday, June 11.

The closure is necessary due to the lack of a functioning Library Board of Directors and the absence of any management personnel to oversee the library staff and the library’s day-to-day operation, the Town Council decided.

It will also give the Town Council time to reorganize the library’s administrative structure, fill the vacancies on the library board and make arrangements for an interim library director. Outreach is underway to identify and put an interim director in place as soon as possible.

“The Town Council was reluctant to take such a dramatic step but we felt it necessary to ensure the Town’s resources are protected and well managed. We have what we feel is the finest library in the North Country and we don’t want anything to jeopardize it,” Town Supervisor Joseph D. Gray said.

“We expect the closure to be brief. We are planning to have another special meeting of the Town Council next Wednesday, June 13, to re-assess the situation and hopefully begin filling vacancies on the Library’s Board of Trustees. We appreciate the community’s patience and support while we work through this unprecedented circumstance,” he added.

Once the library board is in place and has received direction from the Town Council, it will assume control of the library as it has in the past

In the meantime, the Town Council welcomes individuals interested in serving on the library board to contact the Town Supervisor’s Office via telephone at 315-769-3588 or e-mail at supervisor@town.massena.ny.us.

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