Headlines summarize the recent chapter of the library story

Shutesbury puts library on hold  May 5, 2001 Daily Hampshire Gazette

Library plans sweet reward- chocolate to lure public’s input Feb 9, 2007 The Gfld Recorder

032 Deemed a fine site for Shutesbury Library Gazette 1/10/10

Big Step forward for Shutesbury Gazette 7/15/11

Late Drive defeats Shutesbury Library Gazette 11/11/11

Shutesbury to hold second vote on library. Hearing draws 200-plus to speak for/against revote

Tie vote on Shutesbury Library  Recorder 1/11/12

Shutesbury Fails to break the Tie   Montague Reporter 5/17/12

Shutesbury library video gets international attention: Celebrities tweeting about it, donations come in from around the world Gazette 3/10/12

Library Shelved Gazette July 1, 2012

4/14/15 Letter to Selectman Mike VInskey

 Hi Mike,

    Thanks for getting back to me and sorry to bother you on your vacation. With town meeting around the corner I'm grateful for long distance communication and it was helpful chatting with you. I hope your search for a retirement community is fruitful. 

   It was reassuring to hear you support the broadband initiative. I agree there are only a small number of people who are happy with their DSL or don't use the internet and don't care about those of us who don't have it. As we discussed, that seems to be true for the schools as well. People with children and those who value public education view it as an investment while others think only of themselves.

   As you know, I care deeply about Shutesbury and my experience on town boards gives me confidence in the process that allows all sides to be heard.  Voters elect town officials as their representatives. Allowing town departments to do their job without micro-managing or questioning their judgement is not the same as handing over a blank check.    The story of the little red hen could have been written about town government; volunteers grow the wheat and bake the bread and others who benefit, criticize, question, or veto the way the bread was made. Three cheers for your jumping in to help bake the bread with no previous experience. The fact that anyone willing to serve can get elected is the very embodiment of Lincoln's "Government of the people, by the people, for the people."  While I appreciate the efforts of a citizen group to improve communication, it is unfortunate that the democratic process of town government that has worked for over 200 years isn't working for you. I believe Shutesbury would be better served saving the taxpayers $10,000 and inviting friendly conversation as the selectboard did at the recent community dinner.

   While you and I differ in our perspectives on the future, for example I envision a 21st century library of adequate size while you are envisioning a retirement community in Florida,  we share concern for resale value and taxes. I am confident that there is room for all perspectives and the best we can do is to make the most of our democratic process rather than try to reinvent it.

Thanks again for keeping communication open. 

Yours in community,

Karen Traub

Letter to Mike Vinskey 3/31/15

Dear Mike,

Since you didn't return my phone call, I'll assume you are away or prefer to hear from your constituents via email.

I am writing to express my support for Shutesbury joining Wired West and my concern that it not become as contentious as the vote to fund the new library. As with the library which enjoyed 89% support at the 2010 town meeting vote and was approved by 2/3 majority at town meeting, Shutesbury residents are demonstrating their support for bringing high speed internet in overwhelming numbers. As of today we are 92% to the goal of 40% signups and are the leader of the 32 towns. 

It was disheartening as a volunteer to see years of work by many turn into a wasted effort due to a last minute campaign to bring out the "no's". For the sake of the hardworking broadband committee I do not want to see this happen again. People who are not invested in the town come out to vote against a capital project even when it improves the quality of life.  As the library did, the broadband committee has held public forums and is reaching out in multiple ways. The committee is welcoming questions and concerns and yet there are residents who are not accessing the available information. I can only hope there is not a quiet opposition waiting to mobilize. 

High speed internet, like a library, is not an extravagance in a small rural town. I am concerned about the resale value of my home in a town that lacks basic services. You probably have heard about the Dawson's house purchased for $253,000 in 2007, sold after two and half years on the market for only $152,000. Local realtors are stating a 20% loss of value currently and people don't even want to look at homes that don't have internet access. Like many people in Shutesbury I am self-employed. It is detrimental to my business to not have internet access. It is expensive and inconvenient having to drive somewhere to conduct the simplest transaction let alone stay current in my field with continuing education available to my competitors. The Shutesbury Athletic club is the nearest high speed access (DSL- which is no longer considered broadband) and was where my son took his college pre- exams.

Mike- I'd like to know where you stand on bringing broadband internet to Shutesbury. I hope townspeople can work together the way we did during the ice storm of 2008 and the anniversary events of 2011. It's time to stop arguing, opposing and burning out volunteers. Let's move this town forward together.

In the spirit of hope and a reminder of how it is possible to work through differences to find our common goals, I am attaching the letter that Sharon Raymond and I wrote in 2013 after our mediation sessions.

In Community,

Karen Traub

413 367-9826

248 Locks Pond Rd

-------------------------------------------

Dear Shutesbury Friends and Neighbors,

In light of the extraordinary course of events surrounding the proposal for a new Shutesbury Library, we- Karen Traub-New Library Enthusiast, and Sharon Raymond-a resident who was opposed to the construction of the proposed library - have met twice with Greenfield mediator Karen Fogliatti as part of our commitment to rebuild connections, to understand each other's perspectives and to try to be the peace we want to see in the world. We agree that our 6 hours of discussion brought us an increase in our understanding and compassion. This letter is a summary of points of agreement and an invitation to others who may also benefit from a mediated discussion.

We agree that:

1.     Both sides experienced passion and intense emotions around the proposed library; we acknowledge the deep feelings of hurt on both sides.

2.     We hold a shared vision of Shutesbury as a “21st century community with some ‘old fashioned small town warmth” and acknowledge a sense of “us vs them” that we would like to see replaced by the kind of cooperation demonstrated during our 250th anniversary celebration.

3.     For the future of our town we share the values of

·       frugality and simplicity

·       concern for the well-being of the environment including making full use of existing resources and using local labor and materials when possible

·       inclusiveness in the decision-making process with continued outreach

·       preservation of our common heritage

·       events that nurture community such as gatherings and celebrations spiritual, intellectual, recreational and educational pursuits

4.     We acknowledge the volunteer hours that went into planning for a new library and we agree that the knowledge gained through the preparation of the grant proposal and the Library Building Program will be a valued contribution to discussions of a future library.

5.     We are willing to work for a shared vision of a future library.

If you are interested in participating in a future mediated discussion or making a donation toward mediation please contact Sharon or Karen. 

Respectfully and with hope,

Karen Traub karentraub@hotmail.com 367-9826

Sharon Raymond- sharon@simpleshoemaking.com 259-1748 

Notes from Williamsburg and Westhampton projects

Lyn Keating Director-Westhampton moving library across the street. Town refused the MBLC grant, (got 60% but not 2/3) so a splinter group of the friends raised $600,000 and they are moving forward. The Trustees withdrew support.  An anonymous donor gave $150,000.

Lisa Wenner Williiamsburg

Think about building your connections.

Street Lists by street or name.

Got an elevator at cost by asking.  Got circulation desk .  Palmer has a nice one.  Carl a wookworker made it.  Free development advice from a retired volunteer.  They raised 2million dollars.  Love your library and community and understand the connection between them.

New England school of architectural woodworking  MeCeckney’s in Springfield office supplies-used.

Patio   Stone wall built by a retired UMASS professor

Somebody and associates made a mistake on the grade of the sidewalk so it was not handicap accessible.  The volunteer built a brick walk that solved the problem.

Plants were donated , Nick built a beautiful brick patio.  Friends made 25,000 by selling engraved bricks for the patio.

Read around the Clock.  A litlle house was set up and people read 24 hours a day.  Put a doll in the window at night.  Got pledges from releatives all over the country.  Made $25,000 with this.

Got an alumni list from the High School and raised $14,000.  Got a $5000 check from Hawaii.

Cultural Council can have an event that you charge money for.  Had a dinner and gift baskets.  Ann Turner author.  It was a lot of work and raised $5000.

2 people with family foundations that gave $5000 two years.

Someone in town had experience writing grants for the National Endowment for the Humanities.  They knew to ask for money for an endowment. Lots of programming supported their grant.  They give away a few bricks and mortar grants, mostly to large libraries but they give a few to small libraries.  They get the money for saying “we are really cool”  They got $85,000!!!  You are not selling bricks and mortar, you are selling the services inside the library that they will get.

The friends bought the  house next door, tore it down and gave the land to the library.

Michael Rosenfeld, Williamsburg’s wonderful architect.

Williamsburg does not have enough room after 5 years because of becoming a full member of CWMARS.

Perma-mark of Maine, you send the marking.  They put in plain bricks and then replace them as there were donations.

Historic commission can help but lots of paperwork.

Named not only rooms but areas in rooms after donors.

Anne Larsen says DO NOT SAY IN PUBLIC ANY COST OR SIZE ESTIMATES

New Shutesbury Library in my mind

“Shutesbury residents have indicated that they like the friendly, welcoming atmosphere at the current library facility. As we move toward the future, LFNAC members recommend that the library maintains its small town atmosphere, while serving our growing population of active library users with a high quality library. LFNAC members continue to encourage suggestions from residents. Some strongly expressed ideas suggested the library should:

a. Be located in the town center (85.7% said very or somewhat important)b.Serve as a community center, strengthening community in Shutesbury.c. Offer more activities at the library.d.Be visible to the community.e. Be an architectural enhancement to the town.f.  Be built with planning for the future in mind and that it last a long time.g.Honor the town’ s history.h.Reflect current thinking about ecology – i.e. have a southern exposure, be a “green” building, possibly include photovoltaic cells for electricity, and/or use solar or geothermal heating.i.  Reflect the cultures represented in the community.j.  Be a place that provides educational opportunities for the community.k.Include a café or community center where residents can gather and socialize. 

"Patrons would prefer a larger overall space that could include community rooms that could be used for classes or groups (for example, a knitting group, the library book group, yoga classes, etc.) Any expansion of the library must match the unique character of Shutesbury, respect the town and library history, reflect the needs of the residents, and be mindful of the budgetary limitations of a small town."  (library building program 2009)

Driving through the farmlands of Hadley one late afternoon in August as the sun was blazing through the open slats of a tobacco barn I was reminded how the light of knowledge lights up a library and the people within.  For a split second I imagined a library that captured the essence of this icon of local ingenuity and industry and was reminded of an article I read in 2010 during the design phase of planning for the new library.

"Barns and agricultural buildings help tell the Massachusetts story over the last several hundred years. From carriage barns in city or town centers, tobacco barns in the Connecticut River valley, cranberry screen houses on the Cape, to dairy barns across the state, they help us read the landscape and connect us to the life and work of our communities through the generations. Most barns, especially those of timber frame construction, are well-built and have open floor plans that make them useful today for farming or for a wide variety of new uses. Yet, barns are disappearing at a rapid rate from the landscape. With some planning, patience, and creativity, older and historic barns can continue to serve their original function or be put back to use."http://preservationmass.org/programs/mass-barns/

More important to me than what it looked like was being able to dream of a new library again.

I want a library with a flush toilet; room to read a newspaper, space to learn and be inspired, maybe take a class, visit with neighbors on the welcoming front porch. I imagine a sunny local history room where I can connect to the past and check my email. I see children playing and people on bikes safely arriving along the tree-lined main street alley, crossing the bridge over the rain garden, strolling through the memorial garden and enjoying nature along the cranberry strewn trails. The library in my mind is a model of sustainability and cooperation, built together in harmony with the natural world, a community center that brings us together and lifts us up.

I have volunteered many hours and feel I am done with meetings in the cold, damp basement of town hall. I don’t have time to waste trying to convince people to look to the future or feeling defeated when they don't give a damn about others. I will not be on the committee that builds the new library but by Grabthar’s hammer I will do everything in my power that is legal and mostly moral to see that the new Shutesbury library comes to fruition in my lifetime.