Lenox Town Meeting
Thursday, May 6th at 7pm
Lenox Memorial Middle and High School

Please join us at the town meeting on Thursday, May 6, at 7:00 p.m. to propose an increase to our warrant and to vote for a new appropriation.

The Board of Selectmen has recommended a cut to next year’s library budget of $36,452, a 15.4% cut down to $200,000. Such a deep cut would threaten our certification with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and take away many of our core services to the Town of Lenox, such as the ability to borrow from other libraries, receive state funds, apply for state grants, and receive discounts on library materials and supplies. Patrons would not be allowed to use their cards at other libraries, which are not required to work with non-certified libraries. Circulation at Lenox Library would drop by over 20,000 items per year, further cutting into revenues due to fines and fees. The combined potential revenue loss is over $50,000 in actual dollars, along with the borrowing loss of some $216,000 worth of materials.

Support our Library by attending the Lenox Annual Town Meeting and voting in favor of enough funding to keep us operating with full services!

Sincerly,

Sharon Hawkes

ps. Let us know you plan to attend! Find us on facebook, sign in, and give us your RSVP. Click “Attending”!

More information:

  • If we received the recommended cut of 15.4% to the library’s appropriation, we would be forced to apply for a waiver from the state. To read about what this process entails, click here.
  • Follow the link below to see the Annual Town Meeting Warrant. You will find the proposed budget for 2011 town operating expenses, including Article 8, the proposed appropriation to the Lenox Library Association of $200,000.00.
    http://www.townoflenox.com
  • To read the article from the Berkshire Eagle, click here. This link is no longer functional. We have pasted the article below. It is being used with permission from The Berkshire Eagle.

Lenox limits library funding

Updated: 04/13/2010 12:07:56 AM EDT

Tuesday April 13, 2010
Berkshire Eagle Staff

LENOX — The Board of Selectmen on Monday approved a final budget proposal while maintaining funding cuts to the library — cuts that run the risk of losing the library’s accreditation.

Last Wednesday, the board approved all parts of the budget proposal except funding for the Lenox Library Association, after library officials said the decrease in funding could impact the library’s accreditation.

The board stuck with its projected decrease of $36,452, or 15.4 percent, to the library, while acknowledging extra funding is available if the state revokes its accreditation.

The proposed budget for the 2011 fiscal year is $23.3 million, an increase of $300,426, or 1.31 percent. The proposed funding to the library is $200,000.

The private, nonprofit library receives funding from the town for services provided. Its funding decreased last year and had been level funded in previous years.

Because the town is below the funding levels typically provided to public libraries, the association has had to receive a waiver in the past to remain an accredited library.

State law requires that funding to libraries increase yearly, and the decrease in funding could impact the Main Street institution’s status and bar involvement in the inter-library loan system.

Board members said they appreciate what the library does but can’t cut back further in other departments.

“We cannot risk losing an employee, losing services for our town,” said Board of Selectmen Chairwoman Linda Procopio Messana.

If the library were to lose its accreditation, it is possible the town could reinstate some of its lost funds during an appeals process that could take months to complete. Those funds would be acquired from the $40,000 in reserves the town has budgeted for next year.

The matter will now come before voters at this May’s annual town meeting.

© 2010 The Berkshire Eagle.  Used by permission.