LTTE: Friends of the Library urge yes vote on override

To the editor:The Friends of the Lynnfield Library encourage you to vote YES for the FY2026 override budget at Town Meeting, Tuesday, April 29, at 7 p.m. at Lynnfield Middle School.

Due to rising health insurance costs, inflation, minimal town growth, and other factors, the town will have to make tough budget decisions this spring.Lynnfield Public Schools, Lynnfield Public Library, and the Senior Center are at risk of not being able to uphold the standards and expectations of our town if the override does not pass. Even with the override, there are still going to be cuts to the Library and Senior Center, but without the override, there will be devastating effects for Lynnfield.



The largest impact for Library patrons, if the override fails, will be the result of the decertification of the Lynnfield Library. Libraries are NOT required to lend to municipalities that have been decertified. Over 28% of books and materials borrowed using a Lynnfield Library card are from other Libraries.

That is a lot of additional access to books and materials! Decertification means Lynnfield will only be able to request books from Lynnfield and the Boston Public Library.While residents can go to other libraries, they cannot borrow materials while visiting most libraries. Neighboring libraries that do not borrow materials to non-certified municipalities include: Wakefield, Reading, Peabody, Middleton, Lynn, Melrose, Andover, and North Reading to name a few.

Losing 28% of materials for teachers in town, parents, seniors, and students is a huge burden. There is value in our Library! Aside from saving hundreds of dollars on books and materials borrowed, there is also value in services and community connections provided through programming.Additionally, a significantly reduced budget results in cutting staff and hours.

With only nine employees running the library at 40 hours a week and no Saturdays, programs and meetings held at the library won’t be able to take place as frequently, if at all. There will not be the bandwidth for additional staff to run a program and check materials in/out, fulfill requests, and answer questions.Libraries are not just buildings filled with books.

They are vibrant community centers where we can come to learn together, create together, be together. Lynnfield Public Library is dedicated to creating, connecting, and growing. Unfortunately, this cannot be fulfilled if the budget doesn’t allow for staff, materials, hours, technology, programming, and certification.

The Friends of the Lynnfield Library urge you to consider the impact on our entire community. Without the override, students, seniors, and all who have benefited from library programs and services will not be provided for at acceptable levels. Please use your vote to let it be known that Lynnfield values education, community, growth, creativity, and accessibility.

Please vote yes for the override at Town Meeting April 29 at 7 p.m. at Lynnfield Middle School and at the ballot June 4.

Sincerely,Friends of the Lynnfield Library BoardJeana Tecci, PresidentHeather Pagos, TreasurerJessica Tortola, ClerkMary Beth, Board MemberThe post LTTE: Friends of the Library urge yes vote on override appeared first on Itemlive..