Holly Brown

Please vote no HB 1214 Public libraries belong to the communities they serve, and library services are defined by the needs of the community. Therefore, public input and opinion is critical to providing quality library services. Library Trustees are elected by the community to set policy, etc. designed to meet those needs. This is a process that has proven to work efficiently for decades. As a retired Library Director, I have worked with Library Trustees for over 29 years. These thoughtful and caring individuals voluntarily offer their time to act in the best interest of the library and its users. Aside from going into non-public session for discussion regarding library personnel as required by law, the public is always welcome and encouraged to attend a monthly meeting to offer suggestions, ask questions or express concerns. These monthly meetings are always centered around only library business and nothing else. Thus, proving to be the best and most efficient way to determine needs. My experience as Library Director has also allowed me to attend Department Head meetings held by the town. This has provided me with a general understanding of the responsibilities, needs and concerns of other Town Departments, the Town Administrator, and the Board of Selectmen. These are difficult times for many towns and departments due to budget constraints that may involve being in default for the second year with the next year promising to be the same. Being further complicated by being short staffed, these individuals have enough to do without the burden of having complete control of the library. It simply would not be sustainable. Putting control in the hands of the municipality has the potential to drastically cut or eliminate public input and library funding as other issues in the town take precedence. Thus, compromising the integrity of the library and its services or eliminating the library all together.