Even with cuts, Lynn Library in fine shape

LYNN – Citywide budget cuts have taken their toll on the Lynn Public Library, as they have every department in the city this summer, but library officials say they are still in good shape going forward and busier than ever.A budget deficit caused by a lack of revenue and cuts in state aid has forced the city to slice from every individual department budget in the 2010 fiscal year, a reality that has cost the library two employees and directly forced a cutback in some programs.In cutting the library funding, Mayor Edward J. Clancy Jr. said he was careful not to go too deep, as the library must maintain a certain level of resources to remain certified.”We make a significant appropriation to the library every year and we have tried to keep it up enough where it won’t jeopardize the certification,” he said.Still, Library Director Nadine Mitchell says the state of her department is strong.”We did have one layoff that will change the amount of programs that we offer and we also had one employee retire who we will not replace, so we are down two employees,” she said. “But we do have some great programs this summer both for adults and in the children’s library.”The children’s wing of the library is planning a multitude of programs and events this summer that include Thursday morning story time for pre-schoolers, a program that takes place weekly at 10:30 a.m., and concerts by MaryBeth Mayes July 21 and Davis Bates and Roger Tincknell July 22.For adults, the library plans on running an adult program in August and will feature an historical and educational program Aug. 14 when actor Gary Morrison will appear in a one-man performance about World War II journalist Ernie Pyle.”We are working with (Veteran’s Director Michael Sweeney) and reaching out to area veterans organizations,” she said. “I think it will be great.”Mitchell directly disputed a letter to the Item editor published in the July 14 edition that detailed empty shelves in the children’s room and asked the community for support through book donations.The director says that empty shelves at the library are not a result of budget cuts or hard times in the organization, rather a product of 15,000 school children who have been asked to read during summer vacation.”I think there is kind of a misperception going on, people tend to forget that we have 90,000 people in this city and 15,000 school children, all of whom have to read three books over the summer,” she said. “We only allow students to check out two books from the summer reading list at a time, but with everything else, we have no limit.”Mitchell said the problem is something that every library faces, but can be easily solved through interlibrary loans and through library waiting lists.”One of the things the letter said was that we do not have any Dr. Suess books, well we have 50-75 books by Dr. Suess, we just never have them in because they are so popular,” she said. “We circulate 800 items in an eight-hour day, so that is 100 books per hour.”Although the library does accept and appreciate donations, Mitchell asked that residents not to drop off used books.”We appreciate the concern and the intention, but we don’t need donations of new books, that is not a help to us,” she said. “I don’t think anyone wants to go in to a library and pick up an old book. If people would like to help us we have a wish list on our Web site of titles that we do not currently have in.”The library will be holding a fund-raising book sale July 24 from 2-4 p.m. on the library lawn. All books will be $1 with proceeds going to fund the summer reading program.For more information on library programs or to donate visit www.noblenet.org/lynn.