There are many impacts on the Lynnfield Public Library at stake if the override doesn’t pass. We break down the largest library impacts residents will face without proper funding.
Loss of MBLC Certification
Budget Talk: If the override for the town passes, our library will remain certified! To reach MAR (Municipal Appropriation Requirements) Lynnfield needs to provide $995,882 to the Library for FY26. The current override budget allocates $995,886 which meets MAR so LPL can maintain certification status.
If the override doesn’t pass…The town’s balanced budget only allocates $635K for the Lynnfield Public Library, resulting not only in significant cuts but also decertification.
What happens to the Lynnfield Library if it doesn’t maintain certification?
- Lynnfield Library residents will be unable to check out materials at Libraries in other municipalities.
- The LPL would lose interlibrary loan access to Library materials across the state.
- Loss/significant cuts to state aid (FY25 $30,000) and ineligible for grants.
Loss of Dedicated Staff
Without an override, the Lynnfield Public Library would face devastating cuts. If the override doesn’t pass there will be a significant loss of dedicated staff members.
What would these loses include?
• 15 Full-time and part-time staff would be laid off, leaving 9 remaining staff members.
• This would severely limit LPL’s ability to provide service at the level the Lynnfield community is used to, including programming, reference help, and more.
A YES vote for the override preserves most staff members and services.
A NO vote for the override results in a 2/3 staff reduction.
Digital Services and Materials
Without the override the Lynnfield Public Library will face significant cuts. We’ve covered certification and loss of dedicated staff. We wanted to explain how digital service and materials will be affected.
Are you a Libby/Hoopla/Kanopy user? Listen up. E-books are expensive, ONE audiobook of Onyx Storm costs $110 while a physical copy can be bought on Amazon right now for under $20 or on audible for $25. While this is one of the more expensive e-books, it shows the price disparity in physical vs. electronic books. This price tag isn’t a forever purchase either. E-books are
typically a multi user license which expires after 1-2 years or after 26 checkouts depending on the license.
Ever had a Libby wait of the dreaded “many, many months?” Then a week or two later it pops up as “Ready to borrow!”? Hopping the digital line can happen because Lynnfield patrons are offered first dibs on digital materials the Library has purchased a license for. Without the override, LPL will not be able to afford Overdrive Advance and therefore be unable to fulfill purchase requests.
With a severely cut budget not only will less books be able to be purchased each year, the number in our e-book collection will expire without the ability to replace books. IF Lynnfield Public Library will be able to continue to afford these databases.
With over $45,000 digital items checked out in 2024 (18% more than 2023), buying less digital items could severely limit Lynnfield residents’ access to books and materials.
Technology
Did you know that Lynnfield Public Library is constantly updating its technology? This can look like replacing a few computers for staff and patrons every year instead of all at once, access to library and genealogy databases, and adding programs to community computers to name a few.
LPL also provides drop-in technology help monthly for residents. Without the override there will not be enough money in the budget to maintain technology or staff to provide tech help programming.
The technology LPL provides is critical in keeping technology accessible to Lynnfield residents. Not all residents are tech savvy and the Library provides a safe, judgement free space to ask for help and learn.
Open Fewer Hours
Currently, there are 24 staff members at Lynnfield Public Library (a mix of Full and Part Time). At this level of staffing the library is able to have the large range of open hours (64/week) patrons have come to expect. With the override LPL will still have to reduce hours a little, but WITHOUT the override the Library can only afford to staff 40 hours a week, 5 days a week – with no Saturday hours.
If you are part of a club or organization in town this could mean not having a meeting place. Book clubs, Art in Bloom, author talks, most teen programming, and more won’t be able to take place in frequency, possibly at all.
Limited, if any Programing
There will be cuts to programming, but WITHOUT the override programming will be extremely slim, if at all.
With only 9 staff members at 40 hours a week and no Saturdays there just will not be the capacity to run programs as they currently are.
Libraries are not just buildings filled with books. They are vibrant community centers where we can come to learn together, create together, be together. Lynnfield Public Library is dedicated to creating, connecting, and growing.
Unfortunately, this cannot be fulfilled if the budget doesn’t allow for staff, materials, hours, technology, programming, and certification.
We hope you have learned a lot through our series on how the Library will be affected if the override doesn’t pass. Please consider what is at risk and vote YES for the override.
Additional Resources:
Understanding Municipals Appropriation Requirements (MAR)
What happens when a Library is de-certified?
Information on Federal cuts
Federal funding at risk and it’s impacts
Friends of the Lynnfield Library 