With talks of an override and town budget issues, we want to let our community know and understand more about Public Libraries. Even with an override, the current published override budget does not correct the Lynnfield Library budget. While the budget will not be as drastically reduced with an override, it is still being reduced to the point of below the MBLC’s Library certification requirements threshold.
What does Library De-Certification mean?
The short answer for the biggest impacts if the Lynnfield Library is decertified (without a waiver) means:
- Libraries in certified municipalities are not required to lend materials in non-certified municipality (this means Lynnfield residents could lose access to books outside of the Lynnfield Public Library)
- Loss/cuts of State Aid
- Ineligible to apply for grants under the Library Services & Technology Act (LSTA) program
The full list can be found here.
How would the Lynnfield Public Library lose certification? In order to be certified by the MBLC (Mass Board of Library Commissioners) requirements for a town of Lynnfield’s size includes, but not limited to:
- Reaching Municipal Appropriation Requirements (MAR – meaning a specific average of 3 years of town budget times 2.5% must be allocated to the library)
- 16% appropriation budget appropriation to materials
- Being open at least 40 hours and 5 days a week
Reaching Municipal Appropriation Requirements (MAR – meaning a specific average of 3 years of town budget times 2.5% must be allocated to the library)
16% appropriation budget appropriation to materials
Being open at least 40 hours and 5 days a week
These are a few reasons, but not all on why libraries are de-certified. These are the most likely reasons for decertification in Lynnfield.
What does the Lynnfield Library need to be certified? The MAR budget for Lynnfield is $995,882. Without the override the proposed budget is $695K, with the override the current proposed budget is $956,680, which is $39K under what Lynnfield needs to stay certified. The amount is below the threshold for MAR and so low Lynnfield cannot be eligible for a waiver based on the disproportionate amount of cuts.
The Town of Lynnfield needs to know that our Library DOES matter. That this community does care for it. Please reach out to our Town Administrator, Select Board and Finance Committee to let them know these library cuts do have an impact.
Rob Dolan: rdolan@town.lynnfield.ma.us
Phone: (781) 334-9410
Phil Crawford: philcrawfordbos@gmail.com
Dick Dalton: rdalton@town.lynnfield.ma.us
Alexis Leahy: aleahy@town.lynnfield.ma.us
Tom Kayola: tkayola@gmail.com
Friends of the Lynnfield Library 