Save Western Mass. Library System

Speak up now to save the Western Mass Regional Library System

The governors and legislators have made a plan to completely cut funding for WMRLS, the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System. Without WMRLS, slated to disappear July 1 of this year, our libraries will have an even harder time providing services to their patrons. Presenting this as an economically responsible action is short-sighted at best.

Forcing changes that will put many libraries within the state two to three hours away from the one “hub” in Waltham creates new costs for towns and libraries, complicates and threatens many of the services offered, and forces the MBLC and former regions to piece together ways in which the Inter-library loan program and required professional development opportunities can continue to be offered without forcing Western MA library staff members to constantly be traveling to the eastern part of the state. Instead of having a cohesive, well-developed, and experienced staff housed in one place, Western MA libraries will be forced to access services in a piecemeal fashion which, in most cases, will end up wasting money.

Libraries in our spread out, less populated area are a vital force in the education of our children and the preservation of our communities. John Ramsay, current administrator for WMRLS, says that for every $1 that the state sends to WMRLS, it saves our local libraries $8. Is your town going to be able to make up the remaining funds come Town Meeting?

If you depend on interlibrary loan as much as I do, if your kids do research at the library, if you borrow audio books and videos, now is the time to make your voice heard. It's not too late. Please call and/or write your representatives today. http://www.mass.gov/legis/city_town.htm

Become a fan of "We love Western Massachusetts Libraries" on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/We-Love-Western-Mass-Libraries/394169075361) to get support, find samples of letters, contact info for legislators, and to find out what else you can do.

We folks in Western Mass pay our taxes, some of that money should come home to Western Mass and not stay in the new hub in Waltham.

Please act today.

Thanks,
Liz Castro
Ashfield

Here's the letter I wrote:

Dear

I am writing to you because I have recently found out that there is a proposal to cut funding for the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System, and consolidate all services in the Eastern part of the State.

WMRLS has been an intergral part of the small libraries in Western Massachusetts for 50 years. My own local library, Belding Memorial, has only 18,000 books and we depend on WMRLS.

The kids in our town use the library as a resource for learning, for research papers, for internet access, for entertainment, and as a community center.

Regional Administrator John Ramsay says that "the interlibrary loan system, which has grown from 250,000 items to more than 1.8 million last year, saves local libraries more than $8 for every dollar spent". That clearly demonstrates that this funding cut is a shortsighted measure that will cost us more money in the long run. Equally if not more important, is the noxious affect it will have on the education of the people in our communities.

In addition, a recent consultant's report found that the Western Massachusetts system is very efficient and compares favourably with what private vendors could do.

I urge you, therefore, to restore the money cut from line item #7000-9401, and vote against consolidating the regional library system into a single system based in Eastern Massachusetts.

I look forward to hearing your response on this matter.

Sincerely yours,