State law is clear; library trustees are the only party responsible for administration of the library, including building changes

To the Daily Sun,

There have been a lot of letters printed about the Meredith Public Library lately. Here is my perspective.

N.H. state laws are clear that the Board of Library Trustees are the sole body responsible for the administration of the library including the building maintenance and any changes that the trustees feel are needed to the building.

The current library trustees take their oath of responsibility seriously and all recommendations are submitted to the voter for their approval at the ballot box.

After careful research, scrutiny and consideration the Board of Trustees design is considered beautiful in form, function, flexibility and cost to meet current and future needs. This design is clearly forward-thinking for growth within the library and community.

The costs need to be fine-tuned as the design process goes forward. Currently the price quoted is a GUARANTEED maximum. This is huge. There will not be any cost overruns to be put back on the taxpayers. The selected design is in the final stage of approvals which will take into consideration materials used, heating and air conditioning, life safety and ADA compliance, etc. The basic design and layout would not change.

Did you know that since the expansion of the 1980s the population has increased in Meredith by 27.88 percent from 4,646 residents to 6,354 residents, per the U. S. Census Bureau? This is why the library trustees are planning for the future! What is 27.88 percent of 6,354? It is another 1,771 residents. That’s huge folks. When I was growing up in Meredith in the 1950s the population was 2,222 residents. What a beautiful town now. A far cry from the asbestos mill that once sat where Mill Falls Inn is today.

In addition, the question one must ask is holding two elected positions, library trustee and Selectboard seat, considered a conflict of interest? The library trustees have been an independent board in Meredith for 136 years and the library is consistently praised in surveys by Meredith citizens as providing exceptional service. If you like the services you've been receiving such as technology training, humanities lectures and after-school activities please vote for me, Paul Eldridge, Lisa Garcia, Bonnie Ireland, Betty Strader and Virginia Lovett on Tuesday, March 13, at the Community Center.

Ann Butler, Chair

Meredith Board of Library Trustees