To the Editor:
At our May 7 meeting the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Shrewsbury Public Library voted unanimously to endorse the Proposition 2 ? override. We believe passage of the override and its resultant funding to critical services such as public safety and schools will provide the relief needed on municipal funding and therefore protect the Library from a reduction in funding.
We are grateful that town officials have worked hard during these recession years to provide the funds needed to maintain our public library's state certification.? We know that it has not been easy.? Our board is concerned that if the override fails, it will be impossible to sustain this effort.? There will be added pressure to restore essential services to critical departments and we expect that lower priority departments, such as the Library, the Council on Aging and the Parks and Recreation Department will have to reduce their budgets even further.
Our library is critically close to the minimum required town funding to meet criteria for state funding and certification.? Certification allows patrons to borrow materials from the interlibrary loan program and to apply for grants. We believe a strong public library is a key part of a town's quality of life and overall sense of community.? Please join us in voting for the override on June 3rd.
Sincerely,
Carrie Hendricks, President
Friends of the Shrewsbury Public Library
Shrewsbury