I’m writing as a trustee of the South Hadley Public Library to let everyone know that if our library is decertified, which is the danger if our proposed override doesn’t pass on April 14, we may lose a big chunk of state library funding and all our interlibrary-loan privileges. This would mean South Hadley Library cards won’t work in other branches throughout western Massachusetts, as they do now, and South Hadley residents will no longer be able to borrow materials from any branch outside the South Hadley Library, something library patrons did 23,000 times last year.
Over the past five years, our library received nearly a quarter million dollars in state grants; last year we got more than $63,000 in grants for which we will no longer be eligible if we are decertified. This means that on top of the town giving us less money, we will lose tens of thousands of dollars in state funding.
The impact on the health of our library — and therefore our town — would be serious and long-lasting. Consider these comments from a previous Holyoke Public Library director regarding their 1989 decertification: “It took more than five years to regain certification. That single budget cut put us about a decade behind other libraries in technology, automation, and services.”
Of course, we can (and will) apply for a waiver, but there’s no guarantee we’d get one. We would need to show that there is a plan in place to restore library funding within the next five years which, again, we will not be able to do if our override doesn’t pass.
Everything we value about South Hadley. Please vote yes to pass the override — for our students, our seniors, our streets, and our wonderful library, visited nearly 143,000 times last year.
Lanette Sweeney, South Hadley Library trustee
South Hadley