To the Editor:

I would like to address this letter to all those who are eligible to vote on the proposition for the Norwood Library. I am writing to urge you to support the Norwood Library with your vote on Tuesday, Nov. 15.

The Norwood Library has been a long-standing pillar of our community for almost 100 years. It offers an extensive variety of programs and services for all age groups, including a Summer Reading Program for all ages, Thursday Morning Story Hour for consumers of the Norwood Day Treatment Center, Bedtime Story Hour, access to seven computers, copy & fax machines, Norwood Library/Norwood Kiwanis Story Line, Marjorie Bowhall Community Center, audio books, e-books, magazines, reference materials, and of course a diverse selection of books and interlibrary loan. The Norwood Library truly has much to offer all residents of our community.

Some questions have been raised with respect to the proposed budget of $85,000, which the Library is seeking. I would like to assure you that the Board of Trustees for the Norwood Library is fully aware of the tough economic times and has developed the proposed budget with due diligence. Perhaps I can provide some clarification regarding the proposed budget.

First of all, the $47,500 budgeted under personnel, encompasses all payroll expenses. This includes employee salaries, taxes, consultant fees, and legal fees. In actuality, this amount is only an increase of about $8,000 over our last full budget in 2010.

The Norwood Library is currently open three days a week for a total of 25 hours and is staffed by one library director and, at times, volunteers. Many times, though, the library director is alone in the library, which poses potential safety concerns and limits the use of librarian’s time for necessary clerical and director responsibilities.

If the library proposition passes, the library would be open additional days and library staff would be hired back to provide the necessary coverage. The proposed budget also includes $13,500 for building costs, which are standard operational expenses. In addition, $12,000 would be used for materials (books, magazines, program materials) and $5,000 for technology.

This year, there was no money in the budget for materials or technology! If a library is going to remain viable, it needs current materials and the latest in technology, which can be quite costly. Finally, $7,000 is included as miscellaneous and reserve funds. These funds would be used for any unbudgeted-for expenses and/or placed in a reserve fund to offset any future budget increases. While $85,000 may seem like a large budget to some, it is a fiscally responsible budget that meets the basic needs of our small town library.

Finally, I would like to address one last concern I have heard expressed by some; that is – Why should I pay for a library I never use? My response to this is simple. We are a community, and we have a responsibility to our community. I would also ask, why not come on down and check us out? You just might be surprised at what you find! Please support the Norwood Library with your vote on Nov. 15 at the Norwood American Legion from 12 until 9.

Denise diVincenzo

Norwood Library Trustee