Below are two letters, one from Reggie Wilson former supervisor of the Mason Square branch Library to Henry Thomas III, Head of the Local Chapter of the Urban League concerning the sale of the Mason Square Branch Library and Henry Thomas's response:

Email letter to Henry Thomas, III from Reggie Wilson:

Sunday, May 25, 2003

Dear Henry Thomas,

I am writing to you regarding the sale of the Mason Square Library to your Urban League. It is imperative that you re-think your position on this matter. Mason Square Library has been a vital community resource for the past 50 years. It has served generations of residents at Mason Square, survived riots, recessions, and numerous politicians and administrators. With the renovation that it received in 2001, it will probably be with us for 35+ more years. The users of the library and staff members that I have talked to all have misgivings with any down-sizing of the branch. Some tell me that more space should be afforded the library to really do great things. They are all concerned with the lack of input from daycare providers, churches, schools, and other patrons concerning the takeover by the Urban League. You are fully aware of all of the lives that have been touched throughout the years by the Mason Square Library.

I fully realize that you received one heck of a deal from the SLMA but I ask that you do the right thing for the community. If the mission of the Urban League is of inclusion of poor people and not exclusion from vital decision making processes that effect their lives, you are going about this decision all wrong. If you had the community's welfare guiding you as a motivating factor you would wish that the Urban League and the Mason Square Library provide the best service that each can provide. That will not happen if the sale goes through. It takes a man with depth of character to put aside "I" and think about "us" and avoid these tricks and deals that divide us. I hope in the days to come that you have an epiphany and consider some of the alternative locations that Mr. Frank Buntin has listed as potential Urban League sites and follow the suggestions of the honorable Library Study Committee, city council, McKnight and Old Hill Councils, Deberry School, and all of the people and agencies you have to deal with in the years to come. Do you really want to be remembered as the person who ruined Mason Square Library when it was clearly on its way back following the city takeover or for being the person who took the high road and walked away from this bogus deal? How can we tell young people to have a conscience and that it is not what I get out of it, but what is right. If a young person finds a wallet full of money with an i.d. in it, does he/she keep it or turn it over to its worried owner? Does a person sell drugs and addict or kill neighborhood people just to get money and material possessions? This sale is a prime example of a deal that does not feel right and is not right for the neighborhood. An classic example of what I stand to gain and not what a community stands to lose.

Change your mind Mr. Thomas and notify the Swans (who you know are honorable people) or one of us so that we can work something out. You'll send a powerful message of character and unity for the whole city to see and then we will know that it's not always "business as usual" but a new day.

Sincerely,


Reginald A. Wilson

Henry Thomas's email response:

5/26/03

"Mr. Wilson,
Thank you for your message and input. Although I vehemently disagreed with your analysis, analogies and metaphorical representations of how you read this disagreement, I do appreciate you taking the time and pains to share you thoughts with me.
The Springfield Urban League has been a vital institution that has served thousands of citizens via jobs, training, education, senior services, youth development, economic development, civil rights, race relations, scholarships, public policy advocacy, etc........ since 1913; ( 90yrs.) significantly longer than the Mason Sq. Library(MSqL).... just to set the historical record straight.

Secondly, strictly and legally speaking, this is a private business transaction. The SLMA owns and operates the MSqL building privately. although the library receives public support and use, it does not make it a public facility. Parochial schools, Basketball Hall Fame, and countless other private institutions receive significant public support, but they do not lose their independence to operate and make decisions in the best interest of their institutions, regardless how popular or unpopular it may be.....and by the way even though there are some vocal opponents to this transaction, there are a vast number of people- Black and White, but particularly African Americans, who live in the MSq community, support this acquisition. Hence, there is no monolithic view point on this issue!
The bottom line, the Mason Sq. Library was closed for a year for renovations and has been reduced to one day week and was scheduled to be closed permanently do budgetary problems---_by the way, it was first on the list to closed and I was told that those members on the SLMA board that live in the Hill Mcknight Council footprint voted for the list and order of closure). The Urban League aim is to achieve two objectives: Protect the viability and sustainability of the Urban League institution and to prevent to lost of another major asset in our community--The Mason Sq. Library. Open one day a week is not acceptable under any set of circumstances. If you had 100,000. collections it still wouldn't make a difference if there is only one day access. It is the most underutilized asset in our community-----where were the voices with regard to this reality? the circulation is the lowest of any city library in the city. I consider that shameful and requires radical intervention. One think the SUL has never been afraid of taking leadership, even in the face of adversity. Someone once said, "with every adversity there are just rewards".Well, the SUL will breath new life into that building and make it more assessable, more, and more relevant to the needs of MSq community. We are encouraging the SLMA to leave the balance of the collections that are not in active in the MSqL building. Regardless of where the inventory is located, anything in the library now will be readily assessable! Further, because of the SUL's advocacy the new Library Dept. will operate the Mason Sq. in Partnership with us to allow for more access to the community than what would occur if we weren't involved.
in short, if your not locked into a negative position you will see as many others that the Urban League's role in the transaction is value added and a win for the community.
I think the SUL's legacy and mine personally, will continue to speak for itself through something that speaks much louder then any words spoken or written.....through our WORK!!

Warmest Regards,
Henry M. Thomas III"
Henrythom@aol.com