Library Director Ryan Renovin told the Town of Southborough tricentennial committee on Jan. 15 that the library can support the town’s 2027 tricentennial with programming, exhibit loans and promotion but that the library’s planning cycle and staffing limit how far ahead it can commit.

Renovin said the library plans public programs about six months in advance and that a part‑time staff member who operates the library’s laser cutter and makerspace tools is not expected back until March. “We do public programming about 6 months in advance,” Renovin said, and the staff member will “teach our youth services librarian and I how to do it.”

The library has experimented with historical and hands‑on programming that committee members suggested could be tied to the tricentennial. Renovin described a past “Strawberry Social” that the library paired with a friends group book sale: “we had like 2 over 200 people show up,” he said, and the event included vendors, raffle baskets and exhibits from the library’s historical collection.

Why it matters: the library is a high‑traffic town venue and a built‑in communications channel. Renovin said the library sees about “give or take 60,000 visits a year,” and that the library uses email, social media and in‑building bulletin boards to publicize events. He also said the library generally reserves its electronic newsletter for library programs, but will promote town events that include a library component.

Committee members pressed Renovin on two practical points the tricentennial organizers need to know: whether the library or its adjacent lawn/park would be available as event space, and whether major construction could conflict with an event like a parade in 2027. Renovin said the library trustees hold custodianship of the library building and property but do not control the nearby pocket park, and that the town manages the park. He added, “We won't be able to reapply to the program until the next grant round opens up,” and that based on the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners schedule the library “can almost guarantee now that [a] construction” project would not be in place in fiscal year 2027.

Committee members also discussed staffing and promotion logistics. Renovin said the library can help with flyers and social media and that the library’s friends group (a separate 501(c)(3)) coordinates an annual June book sale that could be paired with a tricentennial library event. He advised the committee that specific promotional support would be considered on a case‑by‑case basis and usually requires a library component to qualify for the library newsletter.

Looking ahead, Renovin encouraged the tricentennial group to keep the library informed as plans firm up: “when we get closer to the events, even if they're not taking place at the library, we do that for other events in town so we can help advertise,” he said. He also offered to return to the committee as programming specifics are finalized.

The committee flagged possible early‑summer tie‑ins — strawberry season and the friends group book sale in June — as natural fits for a heritage‑focused library event, and members noted the library’s historical collections could be used in displays or mini‑heritage programming.

Ending: The library offered limited but meaningful support: promotion channels, physical exhibit items and a tested summer event model that the tricentennial committee could scale for 2027. The committee asked Renovin to remain involved as planning moves from general ideas to concrete schedules.