Letter to the Editor from the Friends of the Lynnfield Library Executive Board

To the Editor:

The Executive Board of the Friends of the Lynnfield Library would like to take this opportunity to weigh in on a topic that is important to us and to the town.

Briefly, the Lynnfield Library applied for state funds in January 2014 to study its current and future needs.  If the library is awarded this grant, the town will be able to go ahead with the study at no cost to the town--the library already has the required local matching funds.

The grant vote will take the form of one article - Article 18 - on the April 28 Town Meeting warrant.  The residents will be asked to approve the Board of Library Trustees to proceed with a feasibility study that will take a look at the options of expanding the current Library, or building a new one.  Secondly, town meeting attendees will be asked to authorize the Board of Trustees to "apply for, accept and expend" any state funds that are available for a planning and design grant.

As the Board of the Friends, we know that the library is an integral part of town services.  It is a wonderful resource for all residents and is part of what makes Lynnfield a great community.  And regardless of what path the Town of Lynnfield pursues, the town and the Library need to be in a position to plan for the future.  Voting "YES" on Article 18 will position the town to move forward in the most appropriate manner.

Please come to the town meeting on April 28 and stay as long as it takes for this grant to come up for consideration.  We cannot over-emphasize how cost effective a method this is to plan for the Library's future.  We are so fortunate to be in a position to accept this state funding!

Thanks in advance for the support of all the residents who attend the town meeting on the Library's behalf.

Sincerely,

The Friends of the Lynnfield Library Executive Board