WESTFORD — WestfordCAT reached out to the two candidates running for two open J.V. Fletcher Library Board of Trustees seats in the May 3 Westford municipal elections. Candidates were asked the same outline of questions, and were free to share their replies during an interview with WestfordCAT.
Incumbent Elizabeth “Buffie” Diercks spoke with WestfordCAT, outlining her background, experience and aspirations if reelected to the board.
Experience and Education
Currently retired, she was a library teacher in the Westford Public School system. She received her Master of Arts in Education and Library Science from Bridgewater State University.
Past/Present Municipal Experience
Diercks has served on the board since 2005, serving for six, three-year terms.
“We’re getting to a significant point where I wanted to stay on as a candidate when we communicated our needs for accepting state grant money,” she said.
Volunteer participation, community involvement
Diercks is concerned with conservation issues in town, and attends relevant meetings with her husband.
What should voters know about you?
“I would say that I care deeply about the library as just a public place,” she said. “It needs to stay and be available for the public.”
She continued, “I love looking at the history, that 25 people started this as a social club in the 1700s. Now we’re almost at 25,000 people and we want to keep that available.”
Why do you believe voters should choose you?
“It doesn’t just mark the ballot, but it’s an expression that I believe in the libraries and that its important whether its contested or not,” she said.”
If elected, what impact do you hope to make?
“That’s the most important one, to be making as well as the connection to the town. It’s not just a place with books, but it’s a meeting place and gathering place for free.,” she said.
She also spoke on the J.V. Fletcher Library’s proposed expansion plan.
“Let’s also be open to the public, for the public. When I look at the expansion needs, that’s what it comes down to, because this is being shrunk,” she said. “We may have to wait another 30 years if we miss this.”
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