To the Editor:

The Massena Public Library is seeking to transform from a municipal library to a library district. Residents directly elect trustees and vote on the budget in a district. 

Elected trustees answer to residents and provide the level of service desired. Many libraries have become districts including Brasher, Potsdam and Norwood. They continue to provide quality library service to their communities. 

 The library offers programs for all ages, literacy skills for children, resources for job seekers and homeschoolers, access to computers and internet, and 66 library collections of books, movies and eBooks. In good times and bad, for those able to afford these things for themselves or not, the library provides this variety of services to improve people's lives.  

The proposition before the residents of the school district will shift library funding from town to district residents. This funding would be reliable. The library has suffered funding decreases for many years, receiving the same allocation from Massena now as in 2001.  Funding has decreased $200,000 in the last 12 years. Because of losses and inflation, the library cannot provide as many books, movies, services and hours. If this referendum does not pass, further cuts to hours will be necessary. 

The library is appealing to our community for $679,990, including materials, facilities, and staff. This replaces the current operating budget and in-kind services received from Massena.  Town taxpayers will be relieved of that burden, as well as expenses that support the library, including custodial services, bookkeeping and insurance. Library assets, including the building, book collection and equipment, will be transferred to the library district. 

Regardless of the library form, trustees' responsibilities include creating the mission and service program, securing funding, adopting policies, exercising fiduciary responsibility and hiring a director. Fortunately, the library has had excellent directors, including currently Krista Briggs. Directors and trustees manage the library's financial and physical resources.  Past directors brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars of state aid to improve the library building's lighting system, heating controls, roof and entryways. 

The library has received generous funding from Massena. However, trustees are charged with obtaining sufficient funding to provide services for the present and future. District transformation is the best option to make the library viable for coming generations. 

For more information visit MassenaPublicLibrary.org or contact trustees at mpl_trustees@outlook.com. 

Joseph Savoca, President
Jennifer Stokes, Vice President 
Linda McDonald, Treasurer 
Patricia Ryan, Secretary 
Board of Trustees
Massena Public Library