Ex-Saugus library director named to state board

SAUGUS – The next time the Public Library Board of Trustees has to appear before the state Library Commission it will be up against a familiar face.Former Saugus Public Library Director Mary Rose Quinn has been named to the state commission that oversees libraries across the state. Quinn said she received the appointment letter in early December and was sworn in just before Christmas.”I am very excited and honored to serve on this board and work with the other Commissioners and the talented and dedicated people at the agency,” Quinn said.Rep. Mark Falzone (D-Saugus) made the pitch for Quinn to Gov. Deval Patrick.”I think it’s a really great choice,” Falzone said. “I had recommended her for the position. Obviously the governor made the final decision, but I’m sure he saw she was eminently qualified.”The news was a little surprising to folks in town after Quinn left her post as library director rather abruptly after eight years.Her exodus caught the Board of Library Trustees by complete surprise and left it scrambling to get a handle on running the library that had been besieged by drastic budget cuts and general unrest.The library budget had been cut steadily over the last four years until it was initially zeroed out all together in 2007. Town Meeting members rallied in June and partially funded the library at $277,000, a mere fraction of its one time budget of more than $600,000.The cutbacks led to severely limited hours that continue today and the very real possibility that it may run out of money and may once again face closure by March.Falzone, who worked closely with Quinn to try and keep the library open, said he hopes the town fully funds the library in the upcoming budget. He also said the irony of the trustees having to face Quinn should they need another waiver from the state commission is not lost on him.”That would be correct,” he said. “She is now a member, they would have to face her.”Quinn said she is simply looking forward to her new duties.”The MBLC’s mission is to support, improve and promote library services throughout the Commonwealth,” she said. “I am looking forward to taking on this wonderful opportunity that Governor Patrick has given me to have input in developing and strengthening policies and programs at the state level that will benefit libraries and their patrons throughout Massachusetts.”Along with her duties on the Library Commission, Quinn is also director of the Stevens Memorial Library in North Andover. In addition, she worked on the Steering Committee that formed the Friends of the Woburn Public Library and the MBLC’s Committee Planning Services for Patrons with Disabilities.Quinn replaces Edward L. Bertorelli, whose term had expired. Commissioner Bertorelli served on the Board for 12 years, including two as chairman.