Benton Library Group Receives First Donation

In a milestone, of sorts, the Benton Library Reuse Committee received its first donation in their meeting Tuesday night, Aug. 31, which will go towards reopening of the former branch of the town's library located on Oakley Road as a volunteer-run community library.

Grace Takvorian presented the Friends of the Benton Library, the non-profit corporation that will run the library, with a $100 donation from an Auburndale resident who said she was happy with the volunteer run community library in her Newton neighborhood and wanted to support the members' efforts towards establishing one in Belmont.

The members met Tuesday to discuss not only how to raise money for the library and where it should be placed once it is received, but also the initial steps in establishing the organization to run the library, from approving bylaws that will establish a board of directors along with a Use Committee made of five individuals living in the Benton neighborhood.

Since the library is in a residential location, Benton area residents were consulted earlier on how the building will be used. Diane Musi, who lives across from the now abandoned building, is one of four representatives of the more than 50 residents in the Benton neighborhood who are anxious to know how the building will be used.

"My neighborhood got concerned when the town said they wanted to put a day care there," said Diane.

"I am helping the committee make this a community library and ensure that it remains that," she added.

Committee Moderator Paul Solomon assured those attending the meeting that the bylaws represent an agreement with the Benton neighborhood and the corporation that any services and programs there will have a low-impact on the neighborhood and its residents.

"This has been a long process, but I always believed we will get to 'yes', and I think we have," said Solomon.

A former chapel of boy's school, the structure, located on the corner of Oakley and Old Middlesex roads, was given to the Town of Belmont by the Benton family for use as a library.

In January 2009, the main library closed the branch for financial reasons and the town began seeking interested parties to either purchase or lease the building. A new Montessori and a long-established nursery school expressed interest in the site.

But neighbors and other citizens fought to have the building remains a library and, in February, the Selectmen agreed.

Members are aiming for October to present the Board of Selectmen with their proposal to run the community library relying on volunteers from Belmont and the Benton neighborhood.

Dan Leclerc, vice president of Belmont Historical Society, spoke and advised the members what to do so their proposal can be well received by the Selectmen, suggesting that they have a solid plan for maintenance and operation of the building.

For example who will turn off the lights, perform building repairs, and little things that could turn into disasters during a winter storm — closing the doors.

Although no decisions were made at the meeting, members perused the idea of creating an endowment in order for the corporation to sustain it financially.

Members briefly discussed the initial reason for their meeting, the activities and services they will provide the community, especially the children. A survey will be used to determine if a story hour would interest community members enough to visit it. Furthermore, the safety of the children while in the library was also a concern.

Committee members were asked to review the bylaws and that will be voted on in the next scheduled meeting on Sept. 14.