The Board of Trustees of the Williamsburg Libraries has begun its annual fundraising campaign. Board members hope to raise $18,500 this year.
Meekins Library Director Katie Kroll said the campaign is necessary to make up for the shortfall between funding allocated from the town and the library’s operating budget.
Funding for the libraries in fiscal 2017 was $156,974, which is $18,500 shy of what the libraries need to maintain their services at the current level.
Kroll says the biggest single expense that comes out of the library budget is a state requirement that public libraries in Massachusetts spend a certain percentage on new materials every year.
“At 19.5 percent, that automatically takes $30,609 out of our budget,” Kroll said.
The library employs three full- and two part-time staff as well as several volunteers.
Meekins provides six computers for the public to use, free WiFi service, meeting spaces for community groups, special programming for children and adults, and monthly displays of local artists in its community room gallery.
The library also serves as the Anne T. Dunphy School library, hosting classes two mornings a week when school is in session and provides curriculum materials to supplement classroom studies.
Meekins is currently open 22 hours a week, which are spread over four days.
“I can only imagine what circulation numbers we would have if we could afford to be open more hours,” Kroll said.
In 2015 and 2016, The Library Journal awarded Meekins Library a four star rating based on four per capita measures: circulation, library visits, program attendance, and public internet computer use. This rating makes it one of 15 “star libraries” in Massachusetts.
“Massachusetts is at the top when it comes to student reading scores. I believe that is in part because of the quality of the public libraries in our state,” Kroll said.
The fundraising campaign will run until June 30.
To donate, send a tax-deductible check to Williamsburg Libraries to P.O. Box 772, Williamsburg, MA 01096-0772. In the check memo line, write “FY 2017 Annual Fund.”
If you are a fan of Irish music, you may not want to miss the opportunity to hear Christy Barry and James Devitt of Doolin Music House coming to the Chesterfield Community Center straight out of Ireland, on Sunday, Feb. 5, at 2 p.m.
Barry is an award-winning flute and whistle player and Devitt is well known for his extraordinary fiddle playing.
“Barry is an icon in Ireland. He and James play together and started the Doolin House Concerts at Barry’s home in Doolin, County Clare,” said Sally Fortini of Chesterfield. “At these gatherings, they play, share stories and talk a lot about the history of Irish music.”
Both musicians themselves, Fortini and her husband Jim met the musical duo on one of their several trips to Ireland to participate in Irish music festivals.
“We said do you guys want to take this on the road, and they said yes!” Sally Fortini said.
“This has been very interesting. It all just evolved out of a conversation in the living room,” Jim Fortini said. “If this goes well maybe we will have a few more people come to the area.”
The Chesterfield concert is sponsored in part by the Chesterfield Counsel on Aging and will be the last in three concerts to he held in the Valley.
A suggested donation of $20 for adults, $10 for seniors and young people age 10-18 years old, and 9 years and under free, or a $50.00 maximum family donation.
Barry and Devitt will also perform in Amherst on Friday, Feb. 3, at the Cushing Café at 7:30 p.m. and in Florence on Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Florence Community Center at 7:30 p.m.
On Monday, state Sen. Adam Hinds, D-Pittsfield, will be available to meet with residents at 3 p.m. in the Williamsburg Town Office.
Hinds will answer questions, and is seeking public comment on various priorities and concerns.
Appointments are not necessary but can be booked in advance by calling the Pittsfield office at 344-4561 or the Williamsburg office at 768-2373.
Ideas for this column on life in the Hilltowns can be sent to Fran Ryan at Fryan.gazette@gmail.com.