Vote Language:That Town Meeting does and hereby resolves as follows:
WHEREAS, library services were first established in East Arlington in 1917 when the East Branch Library opened in the basement of the Crosby School. The East Branch Library moved to a larger storefront location in 1950 to better accommodate library patrons; and
WHEREAS, in 1951 Arlington resident Catherine A. Viano sold a parcel on the corner of Cleveland Street and Mass Ave to the Town of Arlington for the purpose of a library; and
WHEREAS, in 1965 the library received a bequest from Edith M. Fox for the expansion of the East Branch Building and in 1969 the building was completed and named for its chief benefactor; and
WHEREAS, today, the Fox Branch Library is a beloved and heavily-used community institution. Circulation and daily visits have continued to grow in the post-pandemic period. In FY24 over 87,000 visitors used the library and checked out over 118,000 items. The Fox Branch Library ranks 10th in circulation in a statewide survey of branch libraries; and
WHEREAS, in 2017-2018 the Library Board of Trustees launched a community listening and visioning project, Reimagining Our Libraries, and presented the community with a plan for a newly rebuilt library facility; and
WHEREAS, the Capital Planning Committee Report to Town Meeting in 2019 anticipated capital commitments at the branch in 2024; and,
WHEREAS, capital priorities shifted in the 2019-2021 period. Capital needs remain crucial at the branch. The library’s 2021-2026 strategic plan identified improving library spaces as a core goal. The library resumed efforts to rebuild the Fox Branch Library; and,
WHEREAS, the Town of Arlington submitted a Letter of Intent to apply for Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (“MPLCP”) grant funds in April 2023; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Library Trustees contracted with Library Planning Associates to conduct a facility needs assessment. The facility needs assessment revealed three major priorities for the Fox Branch Library; and,
WHEREAS, accessibility is a top priority for the Fox Branch Library; and,
WHEREAS, the community highly values children’s spaces and services; and,
WHEREAS current adult workspaces are inadequate; and
WHEREAS, the facility needs assessment identified major structural impediments to Library operations in the Fox Branch Library; and
WHEREAS, poor construction and ventilation has led to mold and other significant problems with the building and the building lacks electrical infrastructure consistent with modern needs and adequate staff space; and
WHEREAS, the library is inaccessible: a step at the entrance of the building excludes anyone who cannot navigate it, including people in wheelchairs, people who use walkers, and other people with mobility challenges. The lower level is only accessible via a staircase, excluding anyone who uses a mobility device or who cannot navigate stairs; and
WHEREAS, the library interior does not provide adequate space for its current numbers of patrons and will only become increasingly cramped as the community grows. The open floor plan fails to provide the acoustical separation necessary to support the diverse needs of children, teens, and adults; and
WHEREAS, the 2024 Town Meeting approved an article of appropriation, “To see if the Town will vote to apply for, accept and expend Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (“MPLCP”) grant funds if approved, and vote to raise and appropriate or take from available funds the sum of $150,000 if said MPLCP grant is approved, said sum to be expended by the Town for library assessment, planning, feasibility and design; or take any action related thereto,” with a vote of 178 yeas and 6 nays; and
WHEREAS, the Town was not successful in securing MPLCP grant funds in the 2023-2024 grant round. However, the Town received the highest score in the small library tier for the Fox Branch Library Building Program and the third highest score for the Fox Branch Library Statement of Need; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Library Trustees are committed to a bringing a newly constructed facility for the Fox Branch Library to Arlington; and
WHEREAS, the Town intends to continue to seek any and all opportunities to identify funding for construction of a new Fox Branch Library, including MPLCP program funds in future grant rounds; and
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Arlington, through the 2025 Town Meeting, affirms a commitment to developing a newly constructed facility at the Fox Branch Library that supports the library needs of all in Arlington.