| Tim Terranova |
There are many Vote No on 2 signs around town. The supporters of the No on 2 movement are correct that a yes vote will reduce the library budget and, therefore, the services it provides. However, what they are not saying is that a no vote will completely close the library. It will not reduce the services, it will eliminate them.
A yes vote will:
- Reduce the librarian hours from 40 to 36; and
- Reduce the assistant librarian hours from 36 to 30 (eliminating benefits).
A no vote will:
- Close the library indefinitely; and
- Lay off library staff.
If the no vote prevails, the selectmen are under no mandate to have another special election. A recent article indicated that the question might appear on the November ballot. The selectmen could also wait until the 2021 town meeting, which would leave the library closed until 7/1/2021.
According to a Pew Report (https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2013/12/11/libraries-in-communities/) “Some 90% of Americans ages 16 and older said that the closing of their local public library would have an impact on their community, with 63% saying it would have a “major” impact.”
What services would be lost if the library were to close? The first and most obvious is access to books, but that is not all the library offers. Some often unseen benefits New Gloucester will lose include:
- Access to high speed internet for those that don’t have it. (Especially with the district embracing remote learning, this in an invaluable benefit for some families.)
- Access to library sponsored programs such as story hours, book clubs, 4-H, and other clubs.
- Access to educational materials for home schooling and those being educated at home.
- Access to picture books and easy readers that are vital to children learning to read.
- Access to a community space for residents of New Gloucester
- A safety net for some of our older residents who regularly come to the library and are checked on if they miss a visit.
How is the loss of these benefits good for the town?
A no vote will also impact library employees. Although the selectmen say we are voting on positions not people, the truth is that people will be affected by either a yes or no vote. A no vote means the two employees lose their jobs. If the library is closed, and the employees laid off, there is no guarantee that they will get their jobs back if and when the library reopens. The town could advertise the positions.
Although I believe the selectmen have ignored the voters and citizens of the town and have purposefully left the voters with no choice but to cut or eliminate library services, I cannot understand the Friends of the Library position to close the library. We should pass the budget, keep the library open, and begin a campaign to restore and perhaps increase funding for the next fiscal year.
Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author. Publication does not imply endorsement by the NGXchange or its volunteers.
