Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Reminder Correspondent HAMPDEN The Hampden Free Public Library closed its doors indefinitely last Thursday, ensuring that for the first time since 1891, Hampden residents will not have a local library. Hampden citizens as well as residents from other towns attended a rally hosted by library employees, volunteers, and the Board of Trustees, who say the rally is the first step to the reopening of the library. "It is with a heavy heart that I watched the library doors locked," said Library Trustee Kathy Hutchinson. "We are going to do everything we can to unlock those doors and re-open the library," she added. At the rally, there were numerous flyers and petitions for people to sign. There was a table set up where Hampden residents could register to vote, and another table with a petition calling for a special town meeting in September or October. The petition is calling for the town "to raise and appropriate $60,000 to fund the library for the fiscal year of 2006, contingent upon the approval of a Proposition 2 1/2 override or any other action relative there to." Hutchinson spoke to the crowd about how they can help to re-open the library, saying that citizens must stay informed, attend hearings and meetings, and know the ramification of their votes. He also encouraged people to join the Friends of the Hampden Public Library, which will be continuing to raise money in order to support the library in the hope that it will re-open its doors. Library Director Ellen Bump spoke about the history of the library, tracing its opening in August of 1891 to its move to the town hall facility in 1932. She spoke of the tough times the library has seen in its past, with the closing the toughest yet. Bump also thanked the staff of the library, including Children's Librarian Dianne Regnier, Technical Services Librarian Cindy Rowley and the Young Adult Librarian, Christina Fairman. "These are women that not only love their job, but perform it with excellence," said Bump. Bump also said that the people most hurt by the closing of the library are the children, who will no longer be able to participate in summer reading programs or study at the homework center. "I believe that when this library re-opens, and I said when this library re-opens, it will be stronger than ever, but it can't re-open without your help," said Bump. John Ramsay, the regional administrator of the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System, was also on hand to address the crowd about the closing. He likened the closing to the movie Star Wars, saying that he felt "a great disturbance in the force" when the library closed its doors. Ramsay also said he believes that just like the first Star Wars movie is entitled "A New Hope," the supporters at the rally represented "a new hope for the library." With the library now officially closed, Hampden residents may have a tough time finding a library to borrow books from. Residents may borrow from the Amherst, Leverett, Northampton, Springfield and Williamstown libraries for a fee. They can borrow from the Hinsdale, Holyoke and Sunderland libraries without restrictions. A flyer was passed out at the rally informing residents of Hampden that a meeting will be held at Academy Hall on 616 Main Street on September 21 to "unite the community in finding common ground and a solution to our problems." The flyer encourages citizens to think about ideas over the course of the summer and attend the meeting in September ready to discuss all of the potential options for re-opening the library as well as helping to solve other aspects of the town's fiscal troubles. Refreshments were served to the crowd while some signed petitions and others read signs and posters located inside and out of the Town Hall. One sign stated "Grinches stole the library and senior center, a sad day for Hampden." The sign on the closed library doors simply said, "The library has closed until further notice." | ||||||
