Library Board of Trustees Candidate Edith Entwistle

The Burlington Council on Aging held a candidates forum last week and invited those running for the Burlington Public Library Board of Trustees to speak to the audience and take turns answering questions. The three candidates for the two open spots are incumbents Edith F. Entwistle and Robert Thys and newcomer Jack R. Donaldson.

Each candidate was asked the same questions and given time to respond in turn. We have dedicated an article to each candidate and their answers.

Below are descriptions and quotes from Edith Entwistle’s answers to the questions asked at the forum. Click for Donaldson’s answers and for Thys’s answers.

The Burlington Town Election is Saturday, April 9 and polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Introduction:

Entwistle started by saying she is a 16-year veteran of the Library Board of Trustees and that she is proud of the work the board has done.

“Our library is one of the best in state of Massachusetts and I’m very proud of it,” she said. “We’ve got a lot of very hard workers and our program is fantastic.”

Entwistle went on to say she was planning on not running this year but changed her mind after the structure of the state-level administration of libraries changed.

“We have gone from five library districts in Massachusetts to one — one board running the whole state. It’s kind of confusing. I wasn’t going to run but that made me run, I thought my experience and knowledge of the state would help.”

What are current trustees doing well?

Entwistle said finances are the big issue for the library at this time and that the trustees are working hard to address the problem of balancing service with budget restraints.

“We’d like to hire another person but some people not agreeing with us on that,” she said, adding that in one hour the library will have 128 items come over the desk and 61 people visit.   

“We’ve got a lot more people do deal with so we need to hire one more full-time person so we have ability to serve all the people that come through the library,” she said. “There are many people that can’t go out and buy books so they come to the library. It costs us more money but costs them a lot less.”

With so much information on the Internet that used to be available only at libraries, what do you see for the future of the library?

Entwistle said she didn’t believe more information being put online would reduce the public’s need for strong libraries because people will need to use the library for Internet access and for free research opportunities.

“I don’t think it will have much to do with number of people who come in to seek information,” she said. “ A lot of people can’t afford computers or books so where are they going to get their information? They will come to library, so I don’t think it will make it too much of a difference.”

What is the number one issue facing the library today?

Entwistle said financing and the budget are the major challenges facing the library. The Burlington Library is certified by the state, she explained, and that means the library has to offer certain services and hours depending on population and Burlington’s population has grown.

“In the last couple of years our population moved up so that moved us up a level,” she said. “Now we need to stay open certain hours and have a certain number of books to stay certified. We need money to keep services available.”

What sets you apart from other candidates?

“I worked with children for years and for 20 years worked with Title 1 kids who were reading below grade level,” Entwistle said. “I realize how important it is to do anything you can to get the children read. In the library it’s a matter of doing everything you can to help people who need help while also providing services for the people who are flying high.”