Melrose Public Library: A Trustee's Perspective [Letter]

I have had the honor to serve for many years as a Trustee of the Melrose Public Library, and I believe without any doubt that the MPL is the heart and soul of our community. Right now, however. I fear for the future of this institution that so graciously provides a wide variety of services to anyone who walks in the door.

If the Override does not pass, the Library itself will not go away, but evening and Sunday hours will disappear, as will some of the staff, the Page program and its jobs for high school students, and many of the wonderful programs that the Library offers day-in and day-out. We have weathered some hard times in the past few decades, but we have never lost state certification, which brings us many financial and service benefits.

When we lose hours, we will likely lose our certification, along with inter-library loan privileges and perhaps most significant, we will lose state funding that depends on fulfilling an objective set of standards regarding staffing, hours, and services. With the loss if accreditation, we will also lose the crucially needed state matching funds to support a long-overdo renovation of the building itself.

I urge you to join me in voting Yes on the Override on April 2. It is the only way that we can guarantee that a Melrose treasure, like the MPL, will remain a vibrant part of our lives for years to come.

Nancy F Kukura
Melrose, MA