Efforts of Coventry/West Warwick Reps. Result in Additional Funding for WW Public Library

Through the joint efforts of the West Warwick House delegation, the state has approved a waiver that will allow the city to restore state aid to its public library and keep it safe from deep cuts to staff, hours and crucial services.

Rep. Jared R. Nunes (D-Dist. 25, Coventry, West Warwick) introduced a bill in 2011 that would have exempted the town of West Warwick from level funding for its library in Fiscal Year 2012. Collaborating with co-sponsors Reps. Patricia A. Serpa (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Warwick, Coventry) and Patricia L. Morgan (R-Dist. 26, West Warwick, Warwick, Coventry), as well as the State Office of Library and Information Services, acting West Warwick Library Director Brigitte Hopkins and town leaders, the library will now be funded at the same level it was in the previous fiscal year.

The good news was conveyed to interim Town Manager Malcolm A. Moore in a letter today from Chief Library Officer Howard Boksenbaum of the state Office of Library and Information Services.

“This is what happens when everybody is working in the same direction,” Representative Nunes said. “When the town and the state can work together to expedite the process, good things can happen. I am extremely pleased to learn that this waiver has been approved.”

Boksenbaum wrote that a waiver of the city’s maintenance of effort, or MOE, is warranted because of its extenuating circumstances and its commitment to restore services that have been reduced by the funding increase. The funding will amount to almost $173,748.

The town will now receive the full amount of the Fiscal Year 2012 state grant-in-aid, and it will not have to further diminish library services.

“There are so many people outside the town of West Warwick that go there because it’s such a good library,” said Representative Serpa. “Children who lack technology at home count on the resources available at our local library.”