Preston — Despite the pending departures of four staff members, Preston Public Library, bolstered by volunteers and Board of Trustees members, will have a full schedule of summer programs for youths and adults.

The Board of Trustees held a special meeting Monday to discuss staffing and program issues and progress on finalizing a strategic long-term plan for the library. At the June 3 board meeting, departing and remaining staff blamed the departures on the board’s handling of the strategic plan and a series of mandates to clean program space and remove posters, decorations and a tank of gerbils beloved by library regulars.

Monday’s meeting featured none of last week's rancor and instead focused on immediate program needs once children’s librarian Jayne Perry departs next week and a discussion of summer hours with reduced staff. The board voted to reduce Monday hours — when the adjacent Town Hall is closed — to 9 a.m. to noon for July and August. The board will revisit Monday and other hours at its August meeting.

The board will discuss the strategic plan at its next meeting, including a presentation by board members who have visited nearly two-dozen libraries throughout eastern Connecticut for ideas on program and space layout, hours and operations.

The board rescinded its self-imposed hiring freeze in the wake of layoffs and voted Monday to advertise immediately for front desk coverage on Mondays, a day Library Director Sue Brosnan said would have no coverage otherwise.

At least five summer programs are “definite,” board members said, and more are being finalized this week. Board members Kelly Davis and Pat Bell will work out a schedule, and board members will commit to arriving a half-hour prior to each program to help set up and will stay afterward to clean up.

Davis said volunteers in the community offered to run programs at no cost to the library, and Friends of the Preston Public Library Chairwoman Linda Christensen said the group will help with summer programs.

“Just let us know what time and how many people you need,” Christensen said.

c.bessette@theday.com

Preston Public Library partial summer schedule

Preston Public Library summer programs scheduled thus far:

Thursday, July 25: Interactive Circus Flow Arts, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. All ages.

Wednesday, Aug. 14: Sparky’s Puppets. 1 to 1:45 p.m. Open to all ages, limit 28.

Thursday, Aug. 8: 4-H STEM Science Thursday: Light of the Sun, UV light. Ages 8-12. Time TBA. Limit 12.

Thursday, Aug. 15: 4-H STEM Science Thursday: Flinking Satellites and an Oreo Moon. Ages 8-12. Time TBA. Limit 12.

Thursday, Aug. 22: 4-H STEM Science Thursday: Meteoric Ozobots. Ages 8-12. Time TBA. Limit 12.

Registration forms available at Preston Public Library, 389 Route 2, Preston. Call (860) 886-1010.