At the Jan. 11 special South Hadley Town Meeting, members will be asked to support a warrant article (Memorandum of Understanding) that would permit Gaylord Memorial Library to become a branch of the South Hadley Public Library. Both trustee boards seek town approval.
Gaylord has been a lending library since 1902 and has a long history of supporting town citizens, young and old. Hundreds of children, including our own, have come to Gaylord to enjoy picture books, to use their new reading skills and learn to use libraries in the historic little building across from the main gate of Mount Holyoke College.
In the 1970s and ‘80s when our children were young, Gaylord was operated by the town as a branch of the South Hadley Public Library with staff supporting both libraries, but town fiscal difficulties in the 1990s required severing that relationship.
The Memorandum of Understanding approval now being sought would reestablish Gaylord’s role as a branch library so that the two could more easily share resources, use a common library card and share a common catalog of both libraries’ resources and reference materials holdings.
Today, in addition to lending books, DVDs and magazines, Gaylord offers an array of wonderful programs, such as music Mondays, a seed library, and book readings by guest authors. Its popular “Mission Possible” program provides tutoring by Mount Holyoke College students for library patrons in need of help in the use of new technologies such as new cell phones and new computers.
The popular Gaylord children’s librarian generally has maximum enrollments in her children’s education projects. Our patrons also consider the library an important convenient, neutral, noncommercial space for meetings and cultural events and a safe place for young children. Older students use Gaylord as a quiet study and project research venue.
Gaylord Friends, a volunteer support group, sponsors monthly, fundraising social gatherings called “Wine Downs” and an annual venture called “Wine, Cheese and Chocolate.”
Like many public amenities in our town, Gaylord’s financial support has become an increasing challenge. A small endowment is now seriously depleted. Despite a number of creative ventures for fundraising, costs have been exceeding the funds generated despite regular support by some generous donors.
The town of South Hadley has generously given some limited support, but this has been on a small contract basis. Frankly, we have been operating on a limited budget for several years.
Our town should again underwrite this little library’s services. Gaylord strives to serve our town’s citizens and continues to help make South Hadley a great place to live. Please help us support the Memorandum of Understanding warrant article.
Win Lavallee
South Hadley
The writer is a trustee of the Gaylord Memorial Library.