Minuteman Library Network Board Denounces Potential Woburn Cuts

WOBURN, MA — Woburn Public Library's membership of the Minuteman Library Network could be in jeopardy if the city goes through with proposed cuts to the library's staffing, the network's Board of Directors said in a letter to Library Board of Trustees President Janet Rabbitt.

As many as 17 of the library's 25 employees are facing layoffs or furloughs, with the city citing the need to save their salaries amid the coronavirus pandemic and the state-mandated library closure.

Staff and their supporters point to the City Council vote June 24 to pass the mayor's proposed Fiscal Year 2021 budget — which does not include any cuts to the library budget. Staff members also say they could be doing delivery, curbside pickup and virtual programming, like many area libraries.

>>Community Rallies Behind Woburn Librarians Facing Layoffs

The Minuteman Library Network is a 41-library consortium with mutual lending and a shared database.

In the statement, the network's Board, which is made up of directors of member libraries, argues that network-wide, the current form of library service "requires an intense staff effort," as all borrowing is done through delivery or curbside pickup. Similarly, inter-library loan using the network "requires knowledgeable, trained staff to retrieve requested materials."

Rather than using staff for delivery, Woburn implemented a volunteer-based system, according to the statement. Volunteers then stopped doing deliveries, because staff were not involved.

"The majority or the entirety of Woburn's non-management staff is in the process of being furloughed or laid off as of July 17, 2020 for reasons other than lack of budgeted funds," the Board wrote. "It is the considered opinion of the Board of Directors of the Minuteman Library Network that these staff members are knowledgeable, capable and dedicated librarians and library assistants."

Because of these concerns, the Board is "in severe doubt" that Woburn's library can maintain state certification and provide the same level of service as neighboring libraries.

"The Board of Directors will bring before the Minuteman Membership as a whole the question of whether the Woburn Public Library is continuing to act as a viable member eligible for continued membership," the directors wrote.

The Board also responded to some Woburn employees being locked out of their email accounts by ordering the suspension of those accounts.

The Board's president, Waltham Public Library Director Kelly Linehan, argued that the staff are the most valuable thing about public libraries.

"We're not just facillitating sing-alongs and grabbing books off the shelf," she said. "We're therapists, social workers, school counselors, job assistance, housing assistance, daycare, elderly care, tech help, and a friendly face at all times.

"I didn't see Amazon or Hoopla or any of the digital offerings (that librarians manage behind the scenes) feeding kids free lunches, setting aside the perfect book for someone, calling seniors at home during quarantine to check in on them, or finding a homeless patrons a warmer winter coat. These are the things we do ON TOP off our jobs as librarians. To discount this work, to label library staff as easily replaced, is a true insult to our profession and gross misunderstanding of the very nature of public service."

Mayor Scott Galvin has not responded to a request for comment.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.