Concert to benefit the Holyoke Public Library

South Hadley town meeting OKs plan to borrow $4.2 million to build new public library

Published: Wednesday, December 14, 2011, 9:51 PM     Updated: Wednesday, December 14, 2011, 10:11 PM

By Jeanette DeForge, The Republican

Republican file photoThis is a graphic rendering of the proposed new South Hadley Public Library.

SOUTH HADLEY– Town meeting members voted overwhelmingly to borrow up to $4.2 million to build a new library Wednesday night.

During the meeting, most people spoke in favor of the project. A group of supporters sat in the back showing signs pushing for a yes vote.
A two-thirds majority was needed to pass the proposal. The 67-17 vote meant it easily passed. When the vote was announced, the hall erupted in applause.
“This is the time to have a new library,” said Robert Robertson, a town meeting member. “I have never had the volume of support from people coming to me.”
In lobbying for the project, Mitchell Resnick, chairman of the Public Library Board of Trustees, argued that the circulation of books and use of computers and other materials has been increasing.
“To build a new library is a popular initiative,” he said, citing numerous letters to the editor and the support of voters in the Nov. 8 election.
But others said the project is not something that the town can afford.
Town Meeting Member Larry Dubois argued for converting the Plains School into a library and said he was opposed to locating the library as close to the Connecticut River where the humidity is higher.
“They are not doing anything to reduce costs,” he said. “We need to have a townwide plan for what we are going to do.”
 The full cost of the library is $10.1 million. The town has received a $4.8 million grant from the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program, but taxpayers had to agree to borrow $4.2 million for the construction.
Private donors are to raise the remaining about $1.1 million. Already the community has raised $400,000.

The town had to secure the finances to build the library by a Jan. 31 deadline or risk losing the grant.

“We should stand up and claim our grant. We use it or we lose it forever,” Resnick, said.
Town officials have been debating replacing the aging, cramped library for at least three years. The existing library is not accessible to the disabled and repairs needed to the roof and carpeting and others would cost about $230,000, said Joseph Rodio, the library director.
Already the location, a brownfield formerly owned by Northeast Utilities at Main and Canal streets, has been selected for the new building by Town Meeting. Architect Philip O’Brien of Johnson Roberts Associates, has been hired to design the building and completed a rendering of the proposed library.

In November, voters passed a referendum asking them if they supported the debt exclusion which would raise taxes for the 20-years of the bond. The vote was close with 1,751 residents voting yes, 1,412 voting no. Voter turnout was 25 percent.
Despite the referendum vote, Town Meeting still had to vote to bond for the money because it it the financing authority of the town.
 Library trustees have said the average homeowner would see an increase of $38 a year in their tax bill.

© 2011 masslive.com. All rights reserved.

Legislative Breakfast season is coming up!

Thanks to all the hosting libraries for taking on this responsibility. Their efforts will help all of us.

Copied and pasted below is the list of breakfasts. Find your senator and then sign up for his/her breakfast. In a separate email to the WMRLS list, we will forward the entire 2 page letter that has gone out to libraries in the Pioneer Valley. Hope to run into some friends at the Breakfasts!

Please register with the hosts so that they can plan on refreshments, etc.

Western Mass Library Legislative Breakfasts Schedule ~ 2012

Full descriptions of the Breakfasts, plus registration information and directions are available at http://mla.memberlodge.org/Breakfasts

Thanks to the Mass. Library Association for hosting the information this year.

Senator Michael Knapik

Friday, January 27, 2012 ~ 8:00 a.m. ~ Holyoke Community College, Kittredge Center Room KC 303
Host: Kathleen McDonough, Interim Dean of Library Services and Academic Support
Registration email: jtomlinson@hcc.mass.edu

Senator Stanley Rosenberg

Friday, January 27, 2012 ~ 8:00 a.m. ~ Forbes Library, Northampton

Host: Janet Moulding, Library Director
Registration email: LDowning@forbeslibrary.org

Senator James Welch

Friday, January 27, 2012 ~ 8:00 a.m. ~ Agawam Public Library
Host: Judith Clini, Library Director

Registration email: jclini@agawamlibrary.org

Senator Benjamin Downing

Friday, January 27, 2012 ~ 8:00 a.m. ~ Berkshire Athenaeum

Host: Ron Latham, Library Director

Registration email: l.kaufmann@mcla.edu

Senator Gale Candaras

Friday, February 10, 2012 ~ 8:00 a.m. ~ East Longmeadow Public Library
Host: Susan Peterson, Library Director

Registration email: speterson@eastlongmeadowma.gov

Senator Stephen Brewer

Friday, February 24, 2012 ~ 8:30 a.m. ~ Palmer Public Library

Host: Nancy Menard, Library Director

Registration email: nmenard@palmer.lib.ma.us

Find the names of your state Senator and Representative(s) by visiting the Massachusetts Library Association - Elected Officials website http://capwiz.com/ala/ma/state/main/?state=MA