MIDDLEBORO — After cutting ties with the Friends of the Middleboro Public Library nonprofit, the Middleboro Board of Library Trustees recently shared their plans for a new bookstore that will replace the Friends group’s current store, Ex Libris.

During a Board of Trustees meeting on Sept. 8, members approved a plan to open a free and donation-based bookstore, since the current store — operated by the Friends nonprofit — is set to close on Sept. 30.

On Aug. 14, the board cemented the end of the partnership with the nonprofit group, following disagreements over the Friends’ operation and use of funding.

Library Director Randy Gagné proposed the library reopen the bookstore under a new donation-based model that gives the public an option to donate, rather than the “transactional” system the Friends’ store uses.

“Rather than having a bookstore, we could have a book collective,” Gagné said. “Folks who could afford to give money would, but otherwise it would be a free bookstore for the public.”

Gagné said the store will implement a donation box to collect the optional donations. He also said the current bookstore volunteers wish to continue to operate the store.

Gagné said the required steps to open their own bookstore would involve implementing a cash box for donations, organizing volunteers and updating signage to reflect the new no-cost store.

The raised donations would go directly into the Donation Account for the library. In this account, the library could use the funds to buy more books for the store. Gagné said he was unsure of how much revenue it would create, but that is his strategy moving forward.

“We are not selling stuff, [the store] is an opportunity for people to benefit. If they want to make a donation they can,” Gagné said.

Trustees Chair James Okolita said the size of the bookstore will be reduced, since construction of a new HVAC system will have to take up some of the bookstore’s current footprint in the basement level of the library.

“It will still be ample, but not as big,” Okolita said.

Gagné said he hopes it can be expanded back to the original size once construction is completed. In addition, he said a possible name could be the “Community Book Collective” but the library will work with the current volunteers to find a suitable name for the space.