Library merger meets resistance

Residents voice disapproval

By Jonathan Cook

Turley Publications Reporter

WARREN – Selectman Bob Souza has done more looking into the second floor of the municipal building with an eye to installing a library. However, whether or not voters come to see it there is another question.

A few weeks ago, Souza unveiled the Board of Selectmen’s proposal to merge the two independent libraries in town into one public library and locate it on the second floor of the municipal building.

Souza told the assembly at last week’s pre-town meeting discussion that the space being vacated by the school district amounts to 3,500 square feet. He said the building was constructed in 1924 and can handle 100 pounds per square foot load. “A modern library is built to 150 pound per square foot, but it doesn’t mean that this can’t be used as a library. It just means that we have to pay attention to the load.”

At the same time, Souza admitted, “It’s not the perfect solution.” Then again, he’s not looking for perfect; he’s looking for more affordable.

He noted that there may be a grant available to install an elevator. In the mean time, there is a chair lift.

“We could conceivably have an elevator in the building in the next two years and a library and save a lot of money,” Souza said.

But resident Audrey Blake Otte disagreed. “I think the idea of the town abandoning its historical town library is disgraceful,” she said.

She asked what the town would do if the libraries in town refused to go along.

Souza answered, “They have the right not to, that’s right. They are a private library. If you don’t want to do it that’s fine. The funding will stop. We’ll take the $150,000 next year and buy books for the town library.”

That led Blake Otte to ask, “The decision’s already been made to abandon the libraries?”

“In my mind,” Souza said, “To save 70 to 90 thousand (dollars), yes it is.”

“When people come to Warren they’re going to drive downtown,” she said. If buildings are abandoned, she added, the town will look like a “rat trap.”

However, Souza has suggested the 1890 library building should be donated to the Historical Society for a museum.

Resident and library booster Kathy Fountain asked Souza to describe how the library could be run on the proposed $80,000 initial budget.

Souza said looking at West Warren Library’s budget gave him the model for the budget. West Warren gets about $49,000 plus fundraising brings it to $60,000, he said. “From that, they expend $21,000 on utility and rent. That takes you back down to $39,000. We propose a library of $80,000 and no rent or any utilities.”

He explained that an elected Board of Trustees would decide how to spend it.

Of the West Warren Library, Souza added, “They do a very good job with the funds that they get. This is not about libraries not doing their work or doing a good job. They are. This about taking a budget of $175,000 and reducing it to $80,000 and saving the taxpayers that money.”

Right now, the libraries are not meeting their budgetary requirements for state certification, a number that grows every year. While the libraries have received waivers and maintained their certification, Souza said it won’t always be that way at the current spending level.

Then Souza said, he would like to hear a better idea. “I will be glad to row in your boat if there’s a better solution,” he said.

Also, he added, the school district will provide used computers for internet use.

“We’re asking people to be part of this,” Souza said.

Blake Otte made another point. She said, “The whole reason when they built these libraries back in the 19th or 18th century and they made them private is so you couldn’t do this, you couldn’t wreck it. They’re made to be impressive, to inspire kids to want to further their educations. No kid is going to come here in some old smelly classroom that hasn’t existed for I don’t know how long and be inspired by that.”

She added, “I don’t think the town has told you that they want to throw it away.”

Board of Selectmen Chair Bob Downing chimed in, saying, “The point is, at the present time we cannot afford two libraries. The bottom line is, it’s going to have to go in front of the voters. That’s were it’s going to be decided.”

He also said, “I don’t think either (library) wants to merge.”