Local Libraries Advocate For Critical State Funding

The following was submitted by State Representative James Arciero. To submit your own content, e-mail asylvia@westfordcat.org

State Representative James Arciero recently hosted the Northeast Regional Library Legislative Breakfast in Chelmsford.   The event, held annually to highlight Massachusetts libraries and their impact on communities, featured addresses by Representative Arciero, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioner (MBLC) Mary Ann Cluggish, and MBLC Executive Director Greg Pronevitz.   The focus of the meeting was library funding in the upcoming state budget.   Such funding accounts for .07 percent of the overall budget, yet libraries service the 63% of Massachusetts residents who hold library cards and it was noted that 96 percent of all library funding from the state goes directly to local libraries to serve patrons.   Arciero’s remarks focused on the fact that funding to local libraries is another form of local aid for Massachusetts municipalities and are critical to the quality of life in many communities.  Funding for most libraries has remained relatively static since the early 1990’s, while services have greatly increased over those years