Selectmen were trying to draw distinctions between two library groups.
By Cora C. Briggs
Special to the Sun Journal

LIVERMORE FALLS – It was the Livermore Falls Library Association that took the heat at Monday night’s budget review as selectmen and Budget Committee members tried to understand the difference between the LFLA and the Treat Memorial Library.

Chairman Bernal Lake and Town Manager Alan Gove attempted to explain that the TML is the building, which belongs to the town, while the LFLA is a group of citizens who manage the distribution of books and materials from the building using town funds.

The LFLA was formed more than a century ago and moved its small collection into the TML when it was donated to the town by the Treat Family in 1954 to house the town offices, the library and the King’s Daughters, a philanthropic organization that benefits needy people.

A trust established by the Treats was designed to support the building but some of that fund has been used for major repairs and the remainder is generating less interest than what it takes for building upkeep.

To assist the town in this lean year, Lake suggested the association use some of its own funds (gifts given for book purchases and now in certificates of deposit) for book purchases, rather than asking the town for $13,600.

LFLA President Roger Ouellette refused, maintaining only the interest on their funds was to be used. “That money is setting there going to waste, it can’t go up as fast as the cost of books,” Lake retorted.

“Does the town make any decisions on the library?” Denise Rodzen asked after hearing many suggestions shot down by Ouellette. “The town has pretty much lost control of this,” Lake replied.

Committee members suggested the library hours be changed to longer times rather than two or three hours here and there, to save heat, but Ouellette said that couldn’t be done as keeping the heat at 50 degrees would ruin the flooring.

Others suggested cutting back the number of books, noting that shelves are too full, that books are stored in boxes throughout the building, and that even the book sale is a waste as there is nothing in it anyone wants to buy.

Of the $54,352 subsidy the association would like from the town next year, more than $42,000 is for salaries for four employees, over half of which goes to the library director.

The library is open only 23 hours a week but the director is considered a 40-hour employee, Ouellette said, with her proposed salary set at $21,944.

The other employees are paid hourly rates of $8.27, $6.58 and $6.25.

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