Posted July 28, 2003.

Haverhill Trustees Threaten Lawsuit over Library’s Budget

Trustees of the Haverhill (Mass.) Public Library are taking steps to sue the city if it fails to restore the library’s budget. The board filed a request for an injunction in Superior Court July 22, one week after Mayor John J. Guerin Jr. informed Library Director Nancy B. Rae he was submitting to the city council a 2004 budget of $279,000, amounting to an 80% cut. The loss in funding would force 35 employees—all except Rae and a head custodian—to be laid off and effectively close the library as of August 15, according to the July 23 Haverhill Eagle-Tribune.

The library has had a contract with the city since 1873 that stipulates the city will pay for staff and utilities so that the library can be certified for state aid to purchase materials. A court hearing on the injunction, which claims a breach of that contract, is scheduled for August 5.

However, board members hope to persuade the council to reinstate $1.3 million, the minimum needed to run the library and meet certification requirements with the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, by August 6 when the library budget is scheduled for review.

At the first of a series of public hearings July 22, Rea told councilors that 76% of the city’s residents have library cards. “We have a fabulous library,” she said, “and people all over the state know it, and we need to keep it.”

The mayor’s budget will take effect August 15 unless altered by the city council.

Posted July 28, 2003.