OrangeLibrariesFriends

2011-11-23T09:33:00.000-08:00

We Need Your Support!

2011-10-19T09:58:00.000-07:00

FY2012 Library Budget

Concerns about the Current Budget Proposal

The Library, one year after surviving potential elimination and being saved by the voters of the town, is once again a target for devastating cuts that are disproportionately targeted at the Library and its users.
The Library’s FY2011 funding was secured by an override vote where Orange citizens voted to raise their taxes to fund the Library at state mandated levels. The very first year that the override funds for the library are vulnerable, the current proposal would take a total of 23.7 percent ($62,291) away from what the Library received in 2011, funds that the friends of the libraries worked so hard to win for the library, and which were approved by a 60/40 majority of voters.
Even the 6/20/11 Town Meeting funding level (a 9.2% cut over FY2012) has already necessitated applying for a waiver to remain certified and closing on Saturdays. The proposed level of cuts would require a further reduction in hours open to the public and to services offered, at a time when town residents are in dire need of library service. As pointed out to the finance committee, the town citizens receive $4.34 in services for every $1.00 spent on the Library. Library service is especially valuable in hard economic times for the unemployed and the poor.
Most disturbing of all, the Library is being asked to cut 23.7% of its budget, while the average cut across town departments is 14.7%. In other words, the Library is being asked to accept a 61% larger cut than the overall average for town departments.

Area	2011	Proposed 2012	Reduction
All Departments (excluding-Education, Debt Service, Insurance, etc.)	4,049,796	3,453,586	-14.7%
General Government	623,984	508,463	-18.5%
Public Safety	1,860,895	1,694,638	-8.93%
Public Works	1,080,754	827,299	-23.03%
Human Services	220,510	222,201	+0.76%
Library	263,225	200,934	-23.7

Trustee Budget Proposal

2011 Budget 263,225

Cut Library at 14.7% 38,694

2012 Budget 224,531

Additional cut from 6/20/2011 budget

6/20/11 Budget 239,062

Proposed budget 224,531

Additional cut needed 14,531

Proposed 2012 Library Budget Lines

Library Director Salary 49,945

Library Wages 129,823

Library Expenses 44,763

Total 224,531

Increase over current proposal 23,597

Bottom Line

The trustees request that$23,597 be restored to the Library budget to make the Library’s cuts proportional, and that any further cuts from the 6/20/11 budget be taken from the Library expense line, not salaries and wages. The Library staff has already voluntarily taken a 10% cut for all 52 weeks of FY2012, and further wage and salary cuts would directly result in further reductions in Library hours.

This request was voted unanimously by the Wheeler Memorial Library Trustees at their October 14, 2011 Special Meeting.

Friends Meeting Monday June 6, 2010

2011-05-26T12:16:00.000-07:00

Rich chocolate, bright lemon and warm cinnamon

2011-04-30T08:50:00.000-07:00

Please call/email me by Tuesday to order a a delicious Boston Tea Cake for Mother’s Day in order to honor your favorite mother (or treat you and your family)!

The “Chocolate Ecstasy” is just that, if you haven’t tasted it before, fudgy and moist. Favorites include the classic Sour Cream & Cinnamon, and the tart and refreshing Lotsa Lemon will make any mom happily pucker-up.

The cakes also make an excellent gift if you are visiting, need a thank you gift or are entertaining at home~ one of these delicious gourmet cakes is welcomed by all! If you own a business or are a corporate sponsor, please consider one of these cakes as a gift to your clients and make them aware that you support the programs of our Orange Libraries programs as a worthy cause. They freeze beautifully; we have taste-tested them! ;)

Tea Cakes offered are: Sour Cream & Cinnamon, Apple Cinnamon, Blueberry, Chocolate Ecstasy, Cranberry Cream, Lotsa Lemon and Pumpkin Cream. Each cake is 1.5 lbs serves 8-10 and sells for $12.00.

Please contact Maria Bull, Co- President and Fundraising Coordinator to place your order. Telephone 978/544-5456 or via email at: mariambull@yahoo.com. If emailing your order please provide your name, home address, telephone number, which cake(s) you wish to purchase and your payment can be sent c/o Maria Bull 235 Dana Road, Orange, MA 01364. Please order by Tuesday, May 3, and cakes can be picked up or delivered to you on Wednesday or Thursday, May 5-6.

Checks should be made payable to Friends of the Orange Libraries. Orders can be placed every day until Tuesday night, May 3rd. Cakes will be available for pick-up or delivery (call Maria to organize this!) on Wednesday, May 5th and Thursday May 6th --just in time for Mother’s Day, Sunday May 8th!

Please help us to continue supporting many of the excellent programs offered by the Orange Libraries.

Thank you for your support!

Meeting This Monday April 4, 2011

2011-03-29T09:54:00.000-07:00

The Friends of the Orange Public Libraries will meet at the Wheeler Memorial Library, 49 East Main on Monday, April 4th at 7:00 pm.

Please join us and help support your local library!

Friends Meeting 2-7-2011

2011-02-03T11:33:00.000-08:00

The February meeting of the Friends of the Orange Public Libraries will take place Monday, February 7, 2011 at the Wheeler Memorial Library. The meeting will commence at 7:00 p.m. Items on the agenda include fundraising, and plans for library improvements. Please consider attending.

2010-12-21T08:28:00.000-08:00

Fundraising Never Tasted So Good!

2010-12-13T12:46:00.000-08:00

Please Note: The cake offer is no longer available but please stock up on the coffee!

The Friends of the Orange Public Libraries are running two fundraising campaigns that promise to help your mornings get off to a delicious and energetic start while you are supporting your local libraries.

The first fundraising campaign is in its final week – orders must be in by this Friday for the delicious, locally-made delicious Boston Tea Cakes. Tea Cakes offered are: Sour Cream & Cinnamon, Apple Cinnamon, Blueberry, Chocolate Ecstasy, Cranberry Cream, Lotsa Lemon and Pumpkin Cream. Each cake freezes well, is 1.5 lbs serves 8-10 and sells for $12.00. Whether you are visiting, need a holiday thank you gift or are entertaining at home, one of these delicious gourmet cakes is welcomed by all. If you own a business or are a corporate sponsor, please consider one of these cakes as a gift to your clients and make them aware that you support the Orange Public Libraries’ programs.

Please contact Maria Bull, Co- President and Fundraising Coordinator or any Friends of the OPLs member for more information or to place your order. You may also order by phone: 978/544-5456 or via email to: mariambull@yahoo.com. If emailing your order please provide your name, home address, telephone number, which cake(s) you wish to purchase and your payment can be sent c/o Maria Bull 235 Dana Road, Orange, MA 01364. Checks should be made payable to Friends of the Orange Public Libraries. Orders can be placed until Friday, December 17th. Cakes will be at the library or available for delivery beginning on Monday, December 20th --just in time for the holidays!

Second, we are partnering with Dean’s Beans Coffee to offer their delicious medium and dark roast coffees at $9/lb., (available in decaf, too at $10/lb.), hot chocolate ($6/12 oz. bag), and “Java Drops,” milk chocolate or dark chocolate-covered espresso beans ($8.50/lb. bag).

These are available at both library branches and should be a real help to you as now you can buy the best coffee in town on Saturdays or at night, as the Wheeler Memorial Library is open until 8PM on Wednesday s and Thursday and the Moore-Leland branch in North Orange is open until 6PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Please help us to continue supporting many of the excellent programs offered by the Orange Public Libraries in Orange, MA. Your support is needed to make this fundraiser a great success!

Friends Meeting 12/13/2010

2010-12-11T12:37:00.000-08:00

The December meeting of the Friends of the Orange Public Libraries will take place Monday, December 13, 2010 at the Wheeler Memorial Library. The meeting will commence at 7:00 p.m. Items on the agenda include fundraising, holiday refreshments, and plans for library improvements. Please consider attending.

Don't Miss It!

2010-09-21T07:32:00.000-07:00

Please Come Out for Town Meeting Monday Night at 7 p.m.

2010-06-20T17:46:00.000-07:00

Your attendance at tomorrow night's Town Meeting is crucial for protecting the victories we worked so hard to achieve. Please be there and be ready to defend our town services.

A note on question 4 (clerical employees): The defeat of question 4 was by the narrowest margin of the four questions. The question itself was (paraphrasing here): "Do you want to increase taxes to keep these positions?". The question was not simply do you want these positions to be retained. Now that questions 1, 2, and 3 passed, the finance committee is now able to propose a budget that retains those positions, without raising our taxes. I do not feel this proposal goes against the voters wishes, because I believe if the question had been--Should we keep these positions if we can do it without increasing taxes--it would have passed. Let's not inflict financial hardship on these individuals and add to the numbers of unemployed in Orange.

We Won!

2010-06-17T18:16:00.000-07:00

Questions 1 (Library), 2 (Transfer Station/Street Lights), and 3 (Council on Aging) passed about 1200 to 800! Question 4 was defeated 900 to 1100. So, a GREAT VICTORY! Thanks so much to everyone who helped save our town! Remember... to turn out next Monday to protect our interests ar Town Meeting

Seize the Day!

2010-06-14T04:37:00.000-07:00

Today is the day to go to the Armory between 10:00 and 8:00 and cast your vote to save the Library, the Transfer Station, the Council on Aging, Town employees, and the future of the Town of Orange. If you care about books and reading, the environment, safe streets, responsive government, senior citizens, and passing on a positive community to our children-- please Vote Yes on all four questions!

ABC40 News Coverage with Video!

2010-06-11T19:23:00.000-07:00

Story and TV interviews from June 11th . Reporter Jim Cline interviews Candace Cross, Michelle Bezio, Hailey and Robin Andrews, and Walt Owens on camera.

What the Town Could Lose

2010-06-07T13:22:00.000-07:00

The amount on the override question is the minimum amount required to meet state standards. If Orange does not meet those standards we would be de-certified. The consequences of de-certification are severe. We would have to return about $35,000 in planning and design grant funds that we currently have. We would be ineligible to receive a $7,500 grant for children's programming that we are on track to receive. We would be ineligible for state construction money that could pay 50% or more (potentially several million dollars) of the cost of a library expansion or new building. Making the Wheeler Library handicapped accessible would be dealt a potentially fatal blow.

And, most visibly, our patrons would lose their ability to request books from other libraries, as well as their right to use other area libraries. A library, once de-certified, must meet state standards for one complete fiscal year before it can apply to be re-certified. Therefore, if we lose certification, it could be almost 2 years before we could get it back. There is a waiver process that might allow a lower level of funding on a temporary basis, but one of the requirements for a waiver is that the library's budget must not have been cut disproportionately to other town departments. So, if the library's budget was cut more than the other town departments, we could not qualify for a waiver. Please share this information so that voters are more fully informed of the consequences facing the library and the town.

Become a Precinct Captain!

2010-05-29T08:35:00.000-07:00

Peter Cross has the voter registration list. He is hoping people will become Voter Captains, which means that a person will be responsible for getting at least 20 voters to commit to voting YES on June 14. He will mark off who we get to commit, and that way, we will not keep pestering the people who have already committed. To get in touch with Peter regarding becoming a Captain or to let him know who has said they’d vote YES, you can email him at: pcross@mass.rr.com
or call 978-544-7336.

From Peter:
I'm trying to generate list of 40 "voting captains," each one of whom can contact 20 other people to support the ballot questions. If the math works, we'll have the 800 votes we need to overcome the 600 people who always vote no on such things, with a little extra cushion just in case. So far I have gotten 13 such "captains" to agree, and I have a list of 40 more people to ask, so if 27 of them agree, we'll have the total of 40 that we need. So, I'm going to try to spend some time art the meeting going over the voting list with captains who are present, so we can establish who is on whose list and we don't duplicate. I can do that away from the main meeting if there needs to be discussion of other issues.

Secondly, are you interested in being one of these "captains?" You can start by just talking to people you know. We don't plan to force lists on people. Candy and I are both serving in this capacity. We're trying for 40 names, and we have 24 already. We're just planning to call them once or twice to remind them to vote. Probably the last call will be the night before the election. The idea is not to argue with people who are opposed. It will take too long. We're just trying to get to the polls the people who will support this effort.

Top Myths about the Overrides

2010-05-25T13:13:00.001-07:00

MYTH 1: If I don’t use the library or the transfer station, or the COA, it won’t hurt me if they close.

THE FACTS: Libraries level the playing field. We have a growing income inequity in America; the gap between the richest and poorest citizens gets wider every year. By making all its resources equally available to all members of its community, regardless of income, class, or other factors, the library levels the playing field. This strengthens the whole community and improves living conditions for us all. The closing of the Transfer Station could increase the likelihood of roadside dumping and reduce the opportunities for recycling. The Town would risk environmental degradation. The loss of streetlights could allow crime to increase and the reduction in town employees would most likely result in shorter hours of operation and longer waits for town services. Seniors who rely on the Council on Aging would have to find help, if available, elsewhere.

MYTH 2: I can just use the Athol Library.

THE FACTS: Orange residents would not be able to borrow materials from Athol and most other area libraries. According to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, when a town’s public library is not certified because of closing or not meeting standards:

1. The noncertified municipality and its library will not receive any State Aid to Public Libraries monies (M.G.L. c.78, s.19A).

2. Libraries in certified municipalities are not required to lend library materials to the library in the noncertified municipality (605 CMR 4.01 (6a)).

3. Libraries in certified municipalities are not required to extend reciprocal library services, beyond in-library use of their materials, to residents of the noncertified municipality (605 CMR 4.01 (6b)).

4. The library will not receive support through the Small Libraries in Networks Program.

5. The municipality is not eligible to apply for funds under the Public Library Construction Program (605 CMR 6.05 (1)(c)), and any existing grant will be invalidated because the library must maintain eligibility throughout the construction process in order to receive grant funds (605 CMR 6.09(7)(b)).

6. The library will not be eligible to apply for grants under the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) program.

MYTH 3: The override is irreversible.

THE FACTS: It's true that unlike a debt exclusion, the override won't automatically end. However it is not true that the increase once passed must continue forever. If the override passes, there are a couple of ways it would be reversible; First, the town meeting could vote not to appropriate the money, either this year or in a future year. There is no requirement that Town Meeting pass a budget that raises taxes up to the limit of what is authorized by the override. Also, there is a process called an underride, where in future years town citizens could vote in a special election to reverse the override in a similar way to which it was passed. Details below from the Mass general laws:

In a city or town, if a majority of the local appropriating authority or the people by local initiative procedure shall so require, there shall be a special election called in order to submit a question to the voters as to whether said city or town should be required to assess taxes by a specified amount below that amount allowed pursuant to this section. The question submitted to the voters shall be worded as follows:--

"Shall the (city/town) of _____ be required to reduce the amount of real estate and personal property taxes to be assessed for the fiscal year beginning July first, nineteen hundred and _____ by an amount equal to $_____?

YES_____ NO_____''.

If a majority of the persons voting on the question shall vote "yes'', the limit on total taxes assessed shall be decreased to the percentage so voted for that fiscal year.

MYTH 4: People can just use Mahar’s library.

THE FACTS: Mahar’s library is designed to support the education of Mahar’s students. They do not have materials for the general public. Their library is not accessible to the public during school hours due to security concerns, and the library is not staffed other times. They have neither the materials nor the staff to serve non-Mahar younger children, families, or senior citizens.

MYTH 5: The Town could use the override money for something else

THE FACTS: For Fiscal Year 2011, the Town could only collect and appropriate the revenues authorized by the override for the purpose stated in the election ballot question. Other uses would not be permitted by law.

MYTH 6: The cost of the override would be greater than what I would have to pay for alternative services.

THE FACTS: The cost of private trash hauling equals or exceeds the average cost of all 4 override questions. It costs less to vote yes! Indirect environmental costs would occur, but are difficult to quantify. The most recent return on investment figures show that the Orange Public Libraries deliver $1.3 million is services to the Town per year. Per capita, that is roughly $167 return on an proposed investment of $33.62. That's less than the cost of two hardback books!

MYTH 7: The library would get a big budget increase as a result of the override.

THE FACTS: The 2009 Annual Town Meeting approved a library budget of slightly over $280,000 for Fiscal Year 2010. This was reduced at a subsequent Special Town Meeting when the Town's financial crisis became more apparent. The amount on the override question id $262,230.00. This would represent a 7% reduction from our original 2010 budget, and less than a 2% increase over the current reduced budget. The amount requested is also the bare minimum required to meet state requirements to receive state certification and state aid.

The Override Election

2010-05-25T13:12:00.000-07:00

·What is the crisis? The Town of Orange is facing a budget deficit of more than $700,000 for fiscal year 2011. Revenues are down from the state and projected expenses far exceed any reasonable estimate of income the Town will receive.

·What is the Finance Committee proposing? The Finance has recommended and the Selectmen have approved holding a special election that will offer four ballot questions to the voters. If the override questions do not pass, some Town services will be sharply cut back or eliminated. In the case of the Library, all library employees would be laid off, and the libraries would be closed. One way or another, the budget would be balanced, as required by law.

·When is the election? The special election is June 14, 2010 from 10:00am to 8:00 pm at the Armory.

·What are the other questions on the ballot? There are three other questions on the ballot. These include whether to lay off part time clerical staff (and reduce hours for some full time staff) at Town Hall and certain other departments, whether to close the Transfer Station and turn off streetlights, and whether to fund the Council on Aging.

·What is at risk? For the Library, all library operations would cease shortly after July 1, 2010. Both libraries would close. All library employees would be permanently laid off. There would be no library programs, circulation of materials, or access to facilities. Because Orange would not be financially supporting its own library, Town residents would not be welcome to use other area libraries.

·How much will the override cost me as a taxpayer? The Library override question would, if passed, add 49 cents tax per $1000.00 of assessed valuation to property tax payers. On a $150,000 home, the increase would be $18.38 per quarter.

·What Town decision makers are involved? The Finance Committee, the Selectmen, and the Town Administrator have crafted this approach to balancing the Town Budget.

·How do I contact the Finance Committee, the Selectmen, and the Town Administrator? All of the previous may be contacted through Town Hall at 978-544-1100 or in person at 6 Prospect Street.

·What can I do to to influence the outcome of all this? Exercise your Right to Vote and determine what the future of Orange will be.

·What could happen at Town Meeting? Town Meeting could change the Town Budget for next year in any way it sees fit, regardless of the override or the proposal from the Finance Committee. The only exception to the above is that the revenue authorized by the override could not be used for anything other than the purpose stated in the ballot question. If the override funds were not appropriated by Town meeting for those specific purposes, the revenue could not be collected by the Town.

Considerations about the Library

2010-05-25T13:07:00.000-07:00

The public library in Orange, one of the very first in the nation, has existed since at least 1857. Through good times and bad, the Civil War, the Depression, and both World Wars, the Town of Orange has supported and benefited from the Library. Are the times more dire today than any we have endured in the past 150 years?

The Library has had incredible private support from Town residents over the years. Both Library buildings were given to the community. Many individual have donated resources to enhance library services to Town residents, not because we didn’t have a Library, but because they wanted the Library to improve or expand. Is the Town ready to betray the trust of those donors that the Town would continue to provide basic support to the Library for its day to day operations?

The Library has been a good “citizen” as a department of the Town. We have given back money to the Town when requested. For many years we presented bare bones budgets in recognition of the Town’s difficult situation. We replaced the Library heating system at a cost of more than $100,000 and did not ask the Town for a dime. We have used grants, state aid, and private donations to fund anything other than the most basic of services. This year at least 25% of the Library’s expenditures will come from non-Town revenue. The library has pursued the course because the trustees believe library services are essential, especially during hard economic times. Eliminating the library during a recession is like closing the hospital during a plague. Many Town residents enjoy and depend on its services.

The Library has provided documentation to the Finance Committee and the Selectmen that for every $1.00 spent by the Town, residents receive $4.50 in services. The Town contributes just over $250,000 and receives more than $1,000,000 in benefits. These figures include only the benefits that are easily measured. When someone comes to the Library and prepares a resume, does a job search and becomes employed, the Town benefits from increased tax revenues, lower social service costs, and from having a productive citizen. When a child gets a head start in school, because of their exposure to books and reading at the Library, and grows up to be happier, healthier, and better informed citizen, the Town benefits financially and otherwise. When a senior citizen on a fixed income finds information, education, and recreation at the Library, is that not important? Name another town department where Orange residents can go and recoup their tax investment in one visit, with no fee- license- permit- bill or unfortunate incident (fire or crime) involved. If good government is about efficiency, getting the most bang for the taxpayer buck, promoting a more informed and productive community – the Library is one of our proudest achievements!

Library Talking Points

2010-05-25T13:06:00.000-07:00

The overide question is for the entire amount needed from the Town to operate.
The amount on the override is the bare minimum to meet state requirements.
Without the overide, no money would be allocated to support the Library.
Without the passage of the override, both libraries in Town would close in July.
The libraries have a collection of 55,000 items that will go unused.
There are 4,000 persons in Town with library cards that will not have access to a library.
The library had a total of more than 42,000 patron visits last year.
The library's programs for children will cease, which last year had a total attendance of over 3,000 children.
Town residents will not have access to free library computers.
Town residents will not be able to borrow materials from other area libraries.
The Town of Orange will no longer receive $5.10 in services for every $1.00 spent on the library.
Students will not have access to a library after school for homework.
The Orange Library, in existence since 1857 and one of the first in the nation, will cease to exist.
Your support is essential for our survival.

Important for Everyone to Know

2010-05-25T13:00:00.000-07:00

From: Deb Blanchard

To: Athol Daily News

Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 3:46 PM

Subject: Letter to the editor

Dear Letter to the Editor

At a couple of recent events, several people approached me knowing that I am the director of the Athol Public Library and commented that if the override does not pass in June, that I would be seeing a lot more of them as they would now be using the Athol Library. Unfortunately while they would be welcome to come into the library, they would not be able to check anything out or utilize any services such as interlibrary loan. Perhaps a bit of historic background would help explain why this is so and to help people understand the impact should the Wheeler Library close.

In Massachusetts as communities were formed, services such as police, fire, public works and libraries were instituted through taxation of its citizens. In general, those services were for the use of the residents of that town only. Libraries were no exception until the State Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) was formed under MGL Chapter 78 and began a wonderful tradition of sharing resources between libraries who met the standards established by the MBLC. Meeting the minimum requirements allowed a library to be certified and privileges of this membership included receiving state grants, being part of the new interlibrary loan system and participating in training workshops. In 1954, the Athol Trustees accepted the Reciprocal Borrowing Agreement that allowed residents of Athol, a certified library, to use their Athol card at any other certified library in Massachusetts and enabled other towns’ residents to use Athol. It was a wonderful arrangement that saved towns money by not duplicating purchases and gave residents a convenient and flexible way to use libraries perhaps where they worked instead of where they lived.

This system has worked so beautifully over time that people have to come believe that it is their right to be a member of any library in the Commonwealth. When all libraries are funded properly and meet the certification standards, everyone enjoys the benefits. The problem comes when people begin to believe that they can cease funding their libraries and instead utilize neighboring libraries funded through other’s taxpayer dollars. This situation negates the reciprocal borrowing agreement because how can Athol residents use another library that is closed?

This is not a case of one library deciding to refuse service to another to be mean; it is a case of one town choosing not honor the agreement to share resources. I can’t imagine that a town would agree to share police, fire or public works services and then decide to eliminate those services and expect the neighboring towns to just take over plowing their streets or policing their town without compensation. Doing that would stretch or make unavailable the resources to the taxpayers funding those services in their own town. It is no different for the library.

The bottom line is that if the taxpayers of Orange decide to not fund their library and step away from the reciprocal borrowing agreement and certification (closing a library is an automatic decertification), the Trustees of the Athol Public Library will have no choice but to follow their policy and deny borrowing privileges to any Orange resident.

We currently have about 2,300 Orange residents registered at the Athol Library who borrowed approximately 14,658 items last year. They would no longer be able to borrow and we could not accept new users. This would make all us, staff and patrons alike, very unhappy. The current system of sharing resources is the best bang for your taxpayer buck you’ll ever see for the small amount of the total town budget that the library is.

Debra Blanchard, Director Athol Public Library

Register Today!

2010-05-25T09:25:00.000-07:00

Today is the last day to register to vote in the June 14th special election. The Town Clerk's office will be open until 8pm to register last minute voters. Please encourage your friends and family to register if they have not. Please remember "it costs less to vote yes" and "save our town"!

Channel 22 News Coverage

2010-05-21T18:23:00.000-07:00

Video of press coverage arranged by Michelle Bezio

Save the Orange Public Libraries!

2010-05-20T09:53:00.000-07:00

Make sure you are counted! In order to vote in the special election on June 14th, you must be registered 20 days before all primaries and elections. Therefore, you must register by May 25th. Please make sure everyone you know is registered and plans on voting! Note: the May 25th probably does not allow enough time... for mail-ins. Citizens should register at Town Hall. Also, please check out our Facebook page here .

The Library Override Question

2010-05-18T10:20:00.000-07:00

What is the crisis? The Town of Orange is facing a budget deficit of more than $700,000 for fiscal year 2011. Revenues are down from the state and projected expenses far exceed any reasonable estimate of income the Town will receive.

What is the Finance Committee proposing? The Finance has recommended and the Selectmen have approved holding a special election that will offer four ballot questions to the voters. If the override questions do not pass, some Town services will be sharply cut back or eliminated. In the case of the Library, all library employees would be laid off, and the libraries would be closed. One way or another, the budget would be balanced, as required by law.

When is the election? The special election is June 14, 2010 from 10:00am to 8:00 pm at the Armory.

What are the other questions on the ballot? There are three other questions on the ballot. These include whether to lay off part time clerical staff (and reduce hours for some full time staff) at Town Hall and certain other departments, whether to close the Transfer Station and turn off streetlights, and whether to fund the Council on Aging.

What is at risk? For the Library, all library operations would cease shortly after July 1, 2010. Both libraries would close. All library employees would be permanently laid off. There would be no library programs, circulation of materials, or access to facilities. Because Orange would not be financially supporting its own library, Town residents would not be welcome to use other area libraries.

How much will the override cost me as a taxpayer? The Library override question would, if passed, add 49 cents tax per $1000.00 of assessed valuation to property tax payers. On a $150,000 home, the increase would be $18.38 per quarter.

What Town decision makers are involved? The Finance Committee, the Selectmen, and the Town Administrator have crafted this approach to balancing the Town Budget.

How do I contact the Finance Committee, the Selectmen, and the Town Administrator? All of the previous may be contacted through Town Hall at 978-544-1100 or in person at 6 Prospect Street.

What can I do to to influence the outcome of all this? Exercise your Right to Vote and determine what the future of Orange will be.

Spring Events

2009-04-23T08:38:00.000-07:00

On the Same Page Events -- Read Javatrekker by Dean Cycon and

Attend a Library Event

Dean Cycon will talk about his work with the coffee trade in Africa, Asia and South America on Wed., April 29th at the Orange Town Hall from 7-8:30. Get the inside "scoop" on the coffee trade and fair trade issues. Free Event with Refreshments.

Also there will be a discussion of the book -- Javatrekker on Monday, April 27th from 7-9 at Moore-Leland Library in N. Orange. Join with others for a discussion of the book, coffee tasting and other refreshments.

June Events
Monday, June 1 at 7 p.m. -- Annual Meeting of Friends at the Moore-Leland Library in North Orange.

Saturday, June 27th from 9 a.m - 12 noon -- Join us for our Annual Book Sale at the Wheeler Memorial Library. Come to the June 1st meeting to help with organizing this event.

Winter and Spring 2009

2009-01-27T11:29:00.000-08:00

New Officers for 2009

Co-presidents -- Natasha Widener and Maria Bull
Secretary - Celia Hastings
Treasurer - Lisa Bouchie

Up-coming Meetings of Friends -- Regular meetings at 7 p.m.

Monday, February 2
Monday, April 6
Monday, June 1 (Annual Meeting)

Up-coming Events -- Watch for On the Same Page Activities in the Spring. The book for this year is JavaTrekker - Dispatches from the World of Fair Trade Coffee by Dean Cycon.

Books will be available for people at the library. There will be book discussions and special events to help us celebrate On the Same Page at the Orange Libraries again this year.

Summer and Fall 2007 -- Friends Activities

2007-09-27T05:44:00.000-07:00

June Book Sale a Success -- Friends raise over $1,000.

On the Same Page Project -- We are pleased to announce that through the hard work of Celia Hastings (secretary) and Walt Owens (library director), a grant has been received to do an "On the Same Page" reading project in Orange. A committee will be set up this fall to choose the book that hopefully many, many people in Orange will read during the coming year.

Fall Activities -- Friends of Orange Libraries

Friends Meeting -- Monday, October 4 at 7:00 p.m. at Wheeler Library. Help plan activities for the year.

The proposed agenda includes:

Introductions
Minutes of June Meeting and Financial Report
Review of Meeting Schedule for year
Review of Membership
Review of Summer Program
Discussion of money proposals -- Check on money allocated for projects at June meeting (Keytags, book carts, plastic bags, picnic tables, floor lamps) and discuss proposals for fall (e.g., Museum passes, YoYo Event, Early Literacy, On the Same Page, Possible teen advisory group and other ideas)
Project -- On the Same Page Project
Other

Sunday, October 7, 2007 -- Celebrate the Harvest. We are looking for people to help be at a table in Butterfield Park to sell soda and water for this great town event.

2007-05-16T19:00:00.000-07:00

Friends of the Orange Libraries
Save the Dates – June Activities!

Mon., June 4, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. -- Annual Meeting of Friends of
the Orange Libraries at Moore-Leland Library in N. Orange

Sat., June 23, 2007 – 9:30-2:00 p.m. – Friends of the Libraries
Annual Book Sale on the Lawn next to Wheeler Library
East Main St., Orange
Bring in books for the book sale before June 21st.

Also help needed with outdoor clean-up and planting –

Sat., June 2 from 11:00 – 1:00 p.m. Bring rakes, garden tools, possible plants.

Want to help with any projects call or email –
Joanie at joaniecm@yahoo.com (978-544-5770) or
Pat at plarson24@hotmail.com (978-544-7035)

Friends December 2006 Meeting -- Library Wish List

2006-12-21T08:39:00.000-08:00

Library Wish List
Do you want to help with Friends projects at the library. Below is a staff wish list that Friends discussed at the December meeting. See Walt or contact the Friends if you can help with shelve books, sew cushions, build picnic tables or do other projects.
Library Wish List-
Cordless phone for Moore Leland ($50.00)
Picnic tables for both libraries ($2-300. each)
Book Carts ($2-250. each)
Wall sconces for children’s department
Floor lamp for Wheeler
Programming money
Floor cushions for story time area
Shades/blinds for west windows
Volunteers for upstairs shelving of books
Motion was made to allot money to numbers 1, 3, and 7, motion accepted. Phone and carts will be purchased; cushions will be made by Friends.

Other Information from December, 2006 Meeting

Welcome and Introductions
Treasurer’s report- $4500.00 in checking
Friends financials updates on money in accounts from Building Committee Fundraising (2002, etc) - total between checking and 1 savings= $18,891.71 (it was originally divided to avoid having one account with more than $10,000.00); it was decided to keep the checking account, and roll the savings accounts into a CD that Sharman will research and find the highest rate. Motion was made to put two names on accounts. Sharman and Joanie were accepted.
Membership drive update- 100 postcards were mailed, and placed around town. From that number, there are now 15 new members.
November 4th, MA Friends of the Library and MA Library Trustees Conference- attended by and reported on by Rice. The conference focused on programming, raising money, and having friends for the library.
Several great for Friends projects were discussed including:
& Piggy back on other town events (Starry, Starry Night, Farmer’s Market)
& “We Love our Patrons” Day (with Valentine’s Day)
& Welcome Wagon (work with local realtors to get names of people moving to the area)
& Calendar (one town did local working men holding relevant books and sold them for $20.00 each)
& Appraisal dinner
Update on books cleared from storage room- prison never responded, but two boxes were donated to Quabbin Valley Health care
One Book Program- letter of intent was submitted by Walt. The application for the grant needs to be submitted by 3/1/07. There were concerns that this would begin around the same time as the Family Literacy Program, and possible building funding, and it might be over whelming. Both Montague and Athol began their programs with a grant, but Athol said that doing it with a grant might be more work for the library staff. Other ideas and suggestions were:
& Avoiding author visits (as they are very expensive), and spending the money on other programs such as videos, dinners, posters)
& Engaging selectmen and library trustees to each sponsor a chapter and lead discussion, with mentoring from library staff
Workshop to learn how to complete the application and run program will be attended by Walt and Celia. There was a motion to move forward with this and it was accepted.
Fundraising- Adam Bergeron, a local pianist, has offered to perform a concert to benefit Friends. Ideas of combining other performers were raised. Joanie to follow up with Adam to ask him about the venue, and get more information.
Garden Update- clearing and planting have been completed. Ground will be covered to ready it for a vegetable garden in the spring.
Sign-up for bringing treats/fruit the weeks around the holidays

Closing- next meeting is set for February 5, 2007. This meeting adjourned at 8:30pm.
Notes compiled by Celia Hastings

Book Fair and Bake Sale

2006-06-20T08:24:00.000-07:00

I'ld like to thank everyone who helped make our Book Sale a success. Thanks to all the volunteers who baked for the event as well as help sort books, set-up the space and clean up. Thanks to Walt, the library staff, and the Trusties for your hard work and support. I would especially like to thank the Unitarian Church for the loan of their tables and Lloyd (sorry I forgot your last name) for the use of his tent. It helped scare the intense heat/sun and rain away.
Thanks to all your hard work we made ~$400 and sold many many canvas bags. I look forward to the next book fair!

Stephanie Conrod
Book Fair coordinator and member, Friends of the Orange Libraries

"I don't want a Utopia. I just want Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."

June 2006 Meeting Notes

2006-06-07T05:08:00.000-07:00

Friends of the Orange Public Libraries
Meeting Notes June 5, 2006

Overview-
Welcome and agenda review
Secretary’s report
Treasurer’s report
Nomination of officers for October Election
Book Sale
Garden Project
Blog
Annual letter
Other
Adjournment

Welcome, introductions, and agenda review
1. Review past minutes from April 3, 2006- accepted
2. Treasurer’s report- $2000.00 donation for the summer reading program, from the Athol/Orange Rotary
3. Nomination of officers for October Election- nominations include: Pres/Co. Pres (Vice) - Pat Larson and Joanie Cohen-Mitchell; Treasurer- Sharman Prouty; Secretary-Celia Hastings
4. Book Sale- set for June 17, 2006, 10-2pm (rain date set for June 18, 2006, 10-2pm). Press release has been given to Joanie and flyers were passed out to be put up around town. So far, no venders yet.
a) Organizing of books will be done Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 6-8pm and Friday from 10-1pm. Those interested are encouraged to stop by. Categories may include fiction, non-fiction, children’s, cooking, crafts, etc.
b) Pricing recommended is $1.00 for hard cover and $.50 for soft cover. A special priced table will also be set up. Suggested to fill a library tote bag for $10.00-$15.00.
c) Baking- donations of cookies, brownies, pies have been offered. Celia to run bake sale table.
d) Set-up will begin at 8am on Saturday. A tent and a dolly have both been offered.
e) Cashier will be Sharman and another
f) Tables will be collected by Rice and Celia
g) Clean-up and Volunteers- Pat will contact those who filled out the survey last year to see if we can get more volunteers
h) Posters and Publicity- Joanie will run a paid ad in the Athol Daily News: Walt will see if they will do a cover story with a picture
5. Garden Project- Pat (Larson) and Pat (Conrad) worked on weeding the plot between the two parking lots. Composted manure was donated and will be picked up. Up to $50.00 was requested for flowers and annuals-motioned- seconded- passed.
6. Blog- the blog from the website, www.orangelib.org, is running. Friends may make contributions. It is accessible from the website with the user name orangelibraryfriends and the password of wheeler01364.
7. Annual letter- Joanie will compile a letter to be mailed in August looking for new recruits. Suggested we do an orange postcard instead to cut down on postage costs. Joanie will email at the end of summer to see if anyone has names and addresses of people who might be interested. 8. Other- Trustee issue continues to be the parking lot entrance. This issue will be brought up again at the next meeting.
9. Closing- next meeting is set for October. This meeting adjourned at 8:30pm.
Compiled by Celia Hastings

April 2006 Meeting Notes

2006-05-15T09:52:00.000-07:00

Friends of the Orange Public Libraries - Meeting Notes April 3, 2006
1. Review past minutes from February 5, 2006- accepted
2. Treasures Report- $3250.00
3. Committee Reports
a) Gardening-two trees taken down. Need to get manure to spread for a combination vegetable/flower garden, side was seeded by town. Maybe get a stone bench donated. May 18th Millers Rivers garden club/N. Quabbin -- see about.
b) Fundraising- press release written- don't want to conflict with engine show June 24th. Will be June 17th.
c) Planning for the Volunteer Recognition and Open Houses- pins were ordered and certificates will be given. Joanie will PR

4. Beautification Ideas
a) Veterans' Wall possibly removed and stored: plans to move/revamp/ replace with bench: how long? Possibly use left over stone from foundations for bench
b) Painting front doors need to be approved by board/director. Need volunteers. Rice will present to board
5. Website updating: verbal agreement to go ahead
Own Friends site? No
Possible blog?
Motioned for all pertinent info be moved to blog- passed
6. Updated Bylaws: new copies supplied
7. Other
a) Summer Reading Party asked for $500.00 for program presenter, food (ice cream/refreshments) motion accepted
b)Donation Jar- stolen, Friends will replace it: motion accepted
Next meeting is set for June5, 2006, in N. Orange. This meeting adjourned at 8:24PM
Complied by Celia Hastings