Board of Trustees
The Hopkinton Public Library’s Board of Trustees is a five-member elected board responsible for overseeing the library for the benefit of the community. Working closely with the Library Director, members are responsible for establishing library policies and plans, assisting the Director in finalizing the budget, strategic planning, goals and objectives, and conducting public relations.
Statement on Censorship
Intellectual freedom is a right for all and libraries are tasked with providing reliable information, quality service, and diverse resources in order to enable that right. We respect the right of patrons to decide which materials are appropriate to their individual circumstance, however, no individual or group has the right to restrict access to others.
The Board of Trustees endorses and follows The American Library Association’s Bill of Rights, which states that a library serves all members of the community, offers diverse materials, and condems censorship.
Approved by the Board of Library Trustees on April 24, 2023.
Board of Trustee Members for Fiscal Year 2024
Susan Porter [current term ends 2025]
I have always been passionate about libraries. Growing up in Natick, the library was my comfort zone. When we moved to Hopkinton 47 years ago, one of my first actions was to apply for a library card. I raised my daughter to love the Hopkinton Public Library, and she has since raised her daughters here as well.
I have been on the Board of Trustees for 10 years, and Chairperson for 6 years. It is my pleasure to give back to our fantastic library in this way. I am a graduate of Boston University and worked as a Surgical Intensive Care Nurse at various area hospitals before retiring several years ago from my position as a Health Care Consultant.
Jessica McCaffrey, Chair [current term ends 2026]
I have lived in Hopkinton since 2019 with my husband, Kevin. We have two rescue dogs, Spenser and Sadie. I have been a trustee since 2020 and have enjoyed the opportunities to contribute to the library’s enrichment of our community by way of providing guidance through the board.
Professionally, I work as an attorney at a contract research organization within the pharmaceutical industry. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family and dogs, reading and listening to audiobooks, doing puzzles, and spending time at Lake Winnipesaukee.
Stan Pulnik [current term ends 2025]
I am a long- time resident of Hopkinton and a retired guitar builder. I first entered the Hopkinton Public Library in 1960 with the rest of my 4th grade class from Center School and the library has been a large part of my life ever since.
Over the years I have been a patron, a volunteer, a member of The Friends of the Library, and I have served several terms as a Trustee. I was a member of the first public Board of Trustees when it became known that the town was on the short list for a grant to either build a new facility or expand the existing building. While on that board I took part in the early fact finding and strategy meetings that laid the foundation for the expansion. One of the main goals of the planning was to ensure that our library would be a place where all members of the community were made to feel welcome and could fully enjoy the facility and all of its services. Through the stewardship of several directors, I am happy to say that not only has that goal been met, but it has been exceeded. The growth in services, library sponsored groups and community programs is something the town can be proud of. As a Trustee I will always perform my duties in the best interests of the library and the community.
Anne Beauchamp, Recording Secretary [current term ends 2024]
I believe public libraries say a lot about a community and I am proud of how our library represents Hopkinton. I have always depended heavily on my local library; libraries have enriched every aspect and stage of my life. When I moved to Hopkinton in 2013, our library was ‘the little engine that could,’ being much bigger in soul than in physical presence. Thanks to our neighbors’ hard work and voters’ approval, we have a library facility that can embody our library’s mission to “inspire exploration, discovery, and engagement as we enrich and strengthen the social network of our diverse community.” I am excited for the opportunity to work with the Board and the Library Director for the benefit of the community.
I graduated from Smith College and the University of Kansas. At Wellesley Public Schools, I now lead equity-focused strategic use of educational data. With a husband and three daughters ages 5, 10, and 13, my main volunteerism has been leading my older daughters’ Girl Scout troops and supporting the troops’ works of community action. I have also been a classroom support volunteer and established and ran an accessible Santa visit event in town.
I’m lucky to enjoy podcasts and Libby audiobooks on my 45 min daily commute. Outside of work and family, I try to fit in a workout, meditation, maybe an occasional physical book, or even knitting or a jigsaw puzzle every year or so.
Warren Carter, Vice-Chair , Liaison to the Hopkinton Public Library Foundation [current term ends 2026]
After twenty eight years in banking and capital markets and residency in Louisville, New York, London, and Washington DC, I moved into the slower pace of private education and managing a retail wine shop in rural Northwest Connecticut. While there I was invited onto the Board of Trustees at two libraries where I also served as Treasurer. Although these were small towns the libraries proudly served as the cultural center of their community. I witnessed daily how well run libraries interacted with the public and how important it was to provide them the resources necessary for imaginative programming.
I moved to Hopkinton in early 2017 (to remarry) and came to know the library as a patron enjoying the beautiful newly refurbished quarters. When asked to join the Board in the fall of 2022 I eagerly accepted as I felt my earlier experience would be helpful. Our library is a vibrant organization offering Hopkinton many cultural services beyond the traditional reading collection.
Until 2010, the Library Board of Trustees was a private entity. In 2010, the private Board agreed to donate the library to the Town of Hopkinton, making it possible for the library to apply for a building grant of $4.5M for the renovation and expansion of the library. Becoming an official Town Department means that all Trustees are now elected by the community rather than appointed. Each member is elected for a 3-year term, rotating, so that only 1 or 2 positions are open for each town election cycle.
The board meets at the Hopkinton Public Library at 7:00 pm on the third Monday of each month, from September through June, and at other times as needed. All meetings conform to the Open Meeting Law and are posted with the town.
We welcome community attendance at meetings as well as any questions or concerns relating to the library. You can contact us through the Library Director or at ltbchair@hopkintonma.gov.
For Board minutes and documents, please search the Town’s repository.