North Adams City Council Supports Library System
 North Adams Library Director Rick Moon said the cuts to the regional system will be devastating. |
The City Council on Tuesday night wholeheartedly endorsed a resolution introduced by Councilor Gailanne Cariddi to urge lawmakers to restore funding by any extent possible.
"Libraries are so crucial these days because people have limited resources," said Cariddi. "This is one service that we can't do without."
Gov. Deval Patrick is looking to cut the state's regional library systems and consolidate all six into one. That has library advocates up in arms over what they say is a short-term fix that will devastate systems that took decades to develop. The governor was met by more than two dozen protesters in Great Barrington on Sunday.
The cooperative systems allow academic, school and public libraries to purchase and share materials through a bookmobile. The systems are a lifeline to small libraries that don't have the space or funding for reams of books, movies and magazines.
"We really don't understand how a cut like this can happen," said Library Director Rick Moon, addressing the council. "Everything runs so smoothly and a major cut like this will basically devastate Western Mass. more than eastern Mass."
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"We have six regions. It will make it one region over the state, which it's going to be tough for anybody to get a book from Boston or Worcestor or Springfield," said Moon. "It's the blue and tan trucks that will stop running and that's the major soruce of where we get our items."
Since July 1, the library has handled more than 200,000 items and provides services to nearly 100,000 patrons of all ages.
Councilor Keith Bona noted that the closing of the local Movie Gallery in the L-Shaped Mall will likely increase the number of film lovers utilizing the library's limited collection, a listing supplemented by the regional system.
The council unanimously endorsed the resolution stating "these cuts will severely curtail the system's effectiveness and will adversely affect the patrons of the North Adams Public Library.
The resolution will be forwarded to the governor, the city's representatives and the House Ways and Means Committee chairman. Mayor Richard Alcombright said he would personally deliver a copy to the governor when he meets with him next week.
