Group pushes to rename library

SAUGUS – A group dedicated to commemorating the activism of Town Meeting member Janet Leuci is hoping to rename the Saugus Public Library in her honor.Town Meeting member and library trustee Bob Cox is leading the initiative to rename the building the Janet M. Leuci Memorial Library. According to Cox, after “Leuci?s death in November following a long battle with cancer, about a dozen Town Meeting members met to come up with ideas on how best to carry on her memory in town.?With no name associated with the library, we thought it was a great idea,” said Cox. “The intent behind this was she was an educator and an avid library supporter. We felt it was very appropriate.”Cox was in such support of the idea that he tried to bring it to a vote at a meeting of the trustees in December, but that process would have violated open meeting law, he said. Instead, Cox and others are looking for feedback from the community on the idea.Since last week and until the trustees? meeting next Thursday, the library?s homepage, http://www.noblenet.org/saugus, has hosted a link for a one-question survey, “As a Saugus resident would you consider renaming the Saugus Public Library ?The Janet M. Leuci Memorial Library??” The survey also contains an optional feature to leave contact information.Library Director Diane Wallace said in her two years in Saugus she hadn?t worked much with Leuci, but said she?s heard about her activism in town and knew that when the library came close to losing its certifications a few years ago, Leuci was one of the people who found a way to retain them.?I met her when I was first interviewed and we clicked right away,” said Wallace. “She was lovely.”Still, Wallace said, such a permanent act should be approached with care. “I don?t think anyone would disagree that she was wonderful person, but it?s a big decision. It?s not something that they should want to take lightly,” she said.Cox said the trustees will discuss the feedback at their next meeting, Jan. 9 at 6 p.m., where he is hoping to move the discussion to a vote.