“What does a damn library do?”
A library gives someone who is looking for a job a place to go to type and print a resume that will help land that job. It gives people without Internet access the opportunity to search online job opportunities.
It is a place for students to research their assignments beyond the hours that school is open. It is still about books; yes, it gives people with limited income a place to borrow books at no charge, or movies, instead of buying or renting them.
It is a place for educational lectures and sharing of ideas. It is a place where preschool children may hold their first book and get excited about the exploring the world outside their experience.
Library programs bring exciting hands-on programs that can inspire both youth and adults to try something new and explore new experiences. Library computers also give residents the ability to prepare and submit their income taxes on time.
A library is a place to quietly read a newspaper or meet new friends. It is a place for a child to be safe after school while trying out a new iPad or reading. A library may bring rotating art exhibits, or historical displays. A library builds community through the service activities of its Friends and Trustees.
Our library is open on Sunday! Who would go to a library on Sunday? Families, working people, program attendees, someone who wants to see a friendly face or a warm “hello.”
The residents of Erving, as well as Greenfield and Deerfield, have a unique opportunity to work within a state funding program this year, or wait 10 or more years for funding assistance. The proposed Erving library will be funded approximately 50 percent by the Commonwealth — our tax money coming back into our community. This is not an opportunity to be missed.
The proposed design is not a luxury, pie-in-the-sky dream. It is based on established parameters for each use: children, youth, adults, quiet study area, handicap accessibility, parking, and after-hours access, as well as mundane things like storage and efficient and effective heating system. The total area is stipulated by the state based on our population and these uses. Each step in the planning has been open and participatory, and in accordance with the state requirements. This is the building design that is eligible for funding. Cutting it in half is not an option. Renovating the existing building is not an option. The alternatives have been reviewed and costs estimated, and the new building is the best alternative for us. It is in line with other library construction in similar municipalities.
The new library is a commitment to our present and our future. It will serve us for generations. It is a smart design and this is the time to implement it to get the maximum financial benefit. Join the 788 residents who hold library cards in Erving and spend some time there. Join the committee and help shape the final design. If no one has stopped into Town Hall and said that the library is not meeting their needs, this would be a good time to do just that.
Sara E. Campbell is a Farley (Erving) resident and Feasibility Committee member.