WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Big changes have come to the Milne Public Library as the Main Street institution celebrates its 150th year.

 

Milne Trustees vice chair Jared Della Rocca appeared before the Select Board on Tuesday to detail some of the new initiatives that expand both the library's mission and its access to the community.

 

One of the most noticeable changes is that the library's doors are, effectively, open six more hours per week.

 

In past years, the library has been open until 8 p.m. only one day per week, Wednesdays. Now, the Milne's doors are open until 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.

 

And every day, the library has begun admitting patrons right up until closing time, Della Rocca told the board. In past years, the practice was to not admit patrons 10 minutes before the closing time. That effectively adds 10 minutes of access, six days per week – or a full hour over the course of a week, he said.

 

And those patrons have more reasons than ever to visit the town's public library.

 

"Thanks to the Friends of the Library, the library is operating an innovative 'library of things,' " Della Rocca said.