|Beverly Cadigan, Friends of the Library|
Unfortunately, the New Gloucester Public Library “Read-In” scheduled for tomorrow Saturday September 26th from 10am to 2pm on the Library lawn, has been cancelled.
The Friends of the Library were told yesterday (Thursday) afternoon that the Read-In was not properly scheduled with the Town and thus could not be held. It is our understanding that NGXchange was also asked to remove its posts announcing the read-in.
It was explained to us that “proper scheduling” included filing a “formal request with the Town and signing an agreement to follow all rental policies even if the rental or usage is free on Town grounds.” This filing is in addition to following the COVID protocol for large gatherings of which the Friends were fully aware.
The Friends submitted a signed Facilities Use Agreement to the Recreation Director, the Town employee in charge of issuing a permit number for such requests, on Thursday afternoon. We did not receive a permit number or the final approval apparently required by the Town Manager in time for the Read-In to legally be held.
Although this Read-In had to be cancelled, we are hopeful to get permission from the Town to gather soon to show how much the Library means to our community…and that it needs to be Open Now.
