SHUTESBURY - The new Shutesbury library will provide an expanded facility with free and equal access to education, information, enrichment, culture, technology, entertainment and community. A library is a vital resource, available to all, especially those of limited means.
The Library Trustees and the Library Facility Needs Assessment Committee (LFNAC) researched, planned and created a preliminary design based on community feedback gathered over four years. On May 1, 2010, at Annual Town Meeting, 89 percent of voters supported applying for the state library construction grant.
Our new library plan is based on a conservative population projection of 2,490 in 2030, gleaned from county, state and federal population resources. Sixty percent of Shutesbury's 1,771 residents have library cards.
As one of the smallest libraries in the commonwealth, we are among the busiest. In fiscal year 2010, circulation was the fourth highest in the state for libraries in towns our size. In fiscal year 2011, the library circulated more than 26,000 items including 12,988 books, 2,577 audio recordings, 1,396 magazines, 8,990 videos and 118 digital catalog items. In addition, the library offered 102 programs with 1,925 attendees.
Highspeed Internet and computer access are not available to all households in Shutesbury. Not everyone can download e-books or even use our online catalog. Not all books are available digitally.
Success of the interlibrary loan system is based on the richness of holdings and participation of the 150 partner libraries. Each library has a responsibility to contribute to the wealth of the collective holdings.
Our new library will provide a community gathering place accessible to every Shutesbury resident. It will be a place where you can meet your neighbors, sit and relax with your favorite reading material or network with others. The community meeting room will serve as a space for library programs including classes, movies, book discussions and more. Shutesbury's new library will be built sensibly to support us now while having the capacity to carry us into the future.
In July 2011, the MBLC awarded the town of Shutesbury a provisional grant of $2.1 million to build a new library. After 16 years of community discussion and three town meeting votes in support of the project, we believe this is our once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and the most important investment our town will make for years to come.
Paul Jacobs, Dan Paquin-Thomas and Weezie Houle are co-president, treasurer and secretary of the Friends of the Spear Memorial Library in Shutesbury.
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