This thread discusses the Content article: What You Can Do To Save Our Library

We love our Nonantum Library!! WE have to save our library!!!

Thank you to everyone who came to our June 11th hearing for saving our Nonantum Branch library. We packed the room. Thank you to Janet for putting together a blog with great _link_s you can use to write to Alderman Scott Lennon and others.

At this point, I think it would be best to contact Mayor David Cohen and try to meet with him. Write on blogs to get the word out. Contact the Board of Trustees for the Library and Nancy Perlow. The decision to close the branch libraries appears to already have been arranged on May 5th, in an allocation budget given to Mayor Cohen. I did not see anything in the budget or other letters about what they planned on doing with these buildings, or how they were now going to deal with what may be _title_ II ADA violations. Every city and town needs to provide library services to everyone in the town or city. If they provided services to people with disabilities before, and are not doing this now, and have an inaccessible library on Homer Street, then they are surely not achieving their mission to provide great library services to everyone.

There is the notion being brought about that the city will own the buildings,and we will simply take them over with volunteers. We were told the branch libraries cost 300K when the actual figure is closer to 140K, it appears by our calculations. This was figured when they claimed our branches were run by three full time staff and one part time staff. How could we have full time staff when the libraries have only been open 15 hours a week for years?

The Nonantum Library seems like it had one of the most use of community programs out of the four, with Camera Club, Italian Culture, etc. These are very important to keep. We need to pull together. Thank you to Marishka.

You may reach me at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

I think we can figure out fun ways to get media attention for our library and fund-raise, using the unique gifts of our residents.

Hi my friends in Nonantum

To let you know, we are still actively fighting to reopen the Nonantum Branch Library. We met with the Board of Trustees on Tuesday July 15th, and had approximately 35 supporters for reopening the branch libraries attend. NewTV and the Newton TAB covered our request for support.

Today, I met with Audrey Cooper, President of the Trustees of the Library. Although she is leaving, I believe she needs to hear from you, and others here in Nonantum who believe our branch libraries need to stay open! They serve children, people with disabilities, and elders.
We need to support all our programs at the library.

The people who oversee the Newton Free Library and all programs are the Trustees of the Library. These include, Audrey Cooper, President (leaving), Al Costa (possibly leaving soon), Elizabeth Wilkinson, Sandra Butzel (leaving), Barbara Lietzke (new) and Leonard Goldberg, Treasurer (no secretary.) These are the people to contact to urge the reopening of our most precious gems in our villages.

Audrey Cooper
617-244-8297

Sandra Butzel
617-332-8021

Leonard Goldberg
617-964-4610

Al Costa
617-244-8040

Beth Wilkinson
617-969-4443


Sincerely
Maryan Amaral, Director
Friends of the Newton Corner Branch Library