Library Trustees Approve Security Camera Policy

Library Board of Trustees · Meeting of September 10, 2026

WATERTOWN — The Watertown Library Board of Trustees approved the library's first security camera policy, clearing the way for a planned 24-camera system. Library Director Long told trustees a Minuteman Library Network survey found Watertown was one of just five member libraries with no cameras, and that staff logged about 169 behavioral incident reports last year and 127 so far this year. The closed-circuit system, with no audio or artificial-intelligence features, was negotiated through union impact bargaining, and town counsel KP Law added language citing Massachusetts General Law Chapter 78 to protect patron privacy.

Long said law enforcement cannot access footage without a court order or subpoena. "It feels like we have a policy in front of us that I feel really protects staff, patrons," Long said. Trustees also heard Long floated a possible move of the Hatch makerspace to the North Branch Library, pending Community Preservation Act funding, and gave Long a top, four-out-of-four performance review across all categories.

In the full story:

• WATERTOWN — September 10, 2026 —
• Call to Order, Roll Call and Minutes
• Financial Report
• Donations
• Director's Report
• Strategic Plan Update: Hatch and the North Branch Library
• Library Director Performance Review
• Borrowing and Loan Rule Policy Revisions
• Closure Request: October 13 Service Desk Renovation
• Security Camera Policy
• Art Donation Policy and Painting Acceptance
• Closing
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 3,062 words

Source: the Library Board of Trustees meeting of September 10, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.