Lura Berry (1866-1959) reading from Lund report on Shutesbury

Letter to MBLC requesting extension 1/13/12

Karen Traub, Chair, Library Trustees

January 13, 2012

Robert Maier, Director  Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners

98 North Washington Street  Suite 401

Boston, Massachusetts 02114

Dear Mr. Maier,

On behalf of the Board of Trustees of the M.N. Spear Memorial Library, I respectfully request to be placed on the agenda for the Board of Library Commissioners meeting on February 2, 2012, with the intention of asking the commissioners for additional time to confirm local funding for our library construction project.

On October 25th, 2011, the Town of Shutesbury had a special town meeting and a warrant article to appropriate the funds needed to confirm local funding was approved by exactly the two-thirds majority required. On November 8, 2011, a referendum to approve a debt-exclusion override failed by a very small margin. A second referendum election for the debt-exclusion override was held on January 10, 2012. The result of that election has not yet been determined. The results were 522 yes votes, 522 no votes, and one provisional ballot that has not yet been confirmed. Eight ballots have been challenged.

Prior to the January 10th election, significant fundraising effort was underway. More than $170,000 has already been raised in donations and pledges. Most of these donations and pledges have been raised in the past six months. On January 11, 2012, a 1:1 challenge gift of $150,000 was offered to Shutesbury for the construction of a new library as described in our application for the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program.

The one-room, 900 square foot, M.N. Spear Memorial Library is 110 years old. It lacks access to water. Despite the tiny size, it is very well used. In FY 10, our circulation was the fourth highest in the state for towns in our population group (under 2,000).

Currently there is not an official outcome to the election. Community support and volunteer energy are high. Donations and pledges, including the very generous challenge gift, continue to arrive. We are very encouraged by the possibility of raising a substantial amount of money in the next few months.

We respectfully request an extension of the deadline to confirm local funding until June 30, 2012.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

Karen Traub, Chair

Trustees of the Spear Library

Ballad of Sadie Grover

Visioning Session-letter to the committee 4/27/17

Dear Master Plan Working Group,


 I won’t be at the town visioning session this Thursday because I have dance rehearsal and frankly I've put in more than my share of hours in planning meetings that came to nothing. Twenty years of planning for a new library ended in a tie vote and a town so bitter that 5 years later some people are still too emotionally charged to discuss it. I am cautiously optimistic about the continued discussion and the progress of mediation, the group for civil communication and the visioning committee. I am glad to see the master plan will reflect the community's need to replace the little old library.  


It is my hope that the town will build an energy efficient gathering place that serves our active community of library users, honors our past and is our legacy.


I want a library with a flush toilet. One with space to learn and grow. I imagine a new library as dear to us as the MN Spear; townspeople of all ages strolling or rolling along the tree lined alley from the center of town or up the hill, visiting on the welcoming front porch, birdwatching or shepherding toddlers along the cranberry lined nature trails, sitting with a book or laptop by the footbridge over the memorial rain garden or sipping tea with friends or a newspaper at the cherry table with the crystal ball feet in the local history room after a class or event. The library in my mind has a green roof and harkens to the past while looking to the future. I imagine it being built together, with Yankee ingenuity, sensibly, to last a long time.


The library offers equal access to education, cultural enrichment and inspiration.
The Library is a hospital for the soul, a candy store for the mind and the heart of the town. The library lifts us up and is a social equalizer that benefits the poorest the most. The tiny MN Spear is charming but inadequate and has served the town that didn't pay to build it for more than a century.  It's time for the little library to grow up with the nourishing support of townspeople.
  
I believe if we pool our talents in a shared vision we will build a sensible and inspiring library for us and our children and grandchildren.  


Thanks for your good work and for welcoming community input. 


Karen


PS: In response to the alternative facts that there was not community involvement in the planning process here is a library timeline.


  
1995Library Director Linda Pryblo identifies need for more
space  
1996   Building committee formed to investigate ways to increase space
2001 Plan  is withdrawn at town meeting due to opposition from a small but vocal group. Committee decides to work on plan to increase community support
2004- Lot 032 gets town meeting approval and is purchased for municipal use
2005 Friends of the Library roundtable
2006 Friends of the Library Chocolate Party to brainstorm ideas for library future
2007 Long Range Plan reflects need for more space
2007 Shutesbury voters approve applying for a second Planning & Design Grant. 
2007-2010The Library Trustees formed the Library Facility Needs Assessment Committee (LFNAC) consisting of Library Trustees, Library Director, representatives from town committees and residents. 
The Committee reviewed the current building against building codes, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements and recommended library space standards, evaluated the current facility’s ability to meet the goals of the library’s Long Range Plan, solicited opinions from residents. A survey was widely distributed soliciting opinions.  The committee identified pockets within the Shutesbury community such as the elementary school, Shutesbury Athletic Club, Lake Wyola and Sirius community, and reached out via phone, in person, at every town event, held forums at the town hall, elementary school and Sirius community. The committee reviewed the work of the 1995 library building committee and visited newly constructed or expanded libraries including neighboring Wendell, New Salem, and Leverett and shared its findings in powerpoint shown at town meeting and other events.



With an overwhelming 89% approval from town meeting in 2010, the committee submitted and was awarded a grant to build a new library. 


2011 Two thirds majority at town meeting approved 
         Ballot vote was a tie and after vigorous fundraising failed when a large pledge was withdrawn, the grant was forfeited to another town