William N. DeBerry Elementary School 670 Union Street

Springfield, MA 01109 (413) 787-7582

Principal: Kevin McCaskill

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April 30, 2003

Mr. Joseph Carvalho III, President

Springfield Library and Museums Association 220 State Street

Springfield, MA 01103

Mr. Carvalho:

After an analysis of the current situation regarding the Mason Square Library, I am truly alarmed at the state of dishonesty, lack of integrity, and down right stubbornness of the SLMA. For you and your organization to hold "covert" meetings with Urban League for several months in "secret and private" negotiations is abhorrent. Secondly, disrespecting the wishes of our City Council is a blatant slap in the face of every taxpayer in the city of Springfield. The City Council order explicitly states that a feasibility study would be due to the Council with recommendations of their findings no later than June 15, 2003. Do you not feel that waiting and being patient would have been prudent?

Several items have crossed my desk since the press conference at the Mason Square Library. They are very interesting but yet intriguing. They are as follows:

1. It appears that the SLMA has collected city funds in the amount of $72,492,327 over the past 10 years. I believe some of these monies are tax dollars that some homeowners in the Old Hill neighborhood have paid.

2. The SLMA has amassed a profit accumulated over a seven- (7) period of $18,090,301. Mathematically, that's about $2,584,329 profit per year. `where does it go?

3. The financial statements in that same seven (7) year period reflect a gain in their net assets from $18,176,257 in 1996 to $57,123,545 in 2002. I believe that this means that the SLMA has tripled its net assets over seven years. So how come a reduction of $200,000 in February results in the possible closings of four branches (and the possible takeover by an outside agency) when you have, on paper at least, the money?

4. The approximate cost to run the libraries in 2002 was $6,689,383. If the city is turning over roughly $7,000,000 per year and profits are roughly $2,500,000 for the

SLMA, does that not amount to roughly $9.500,000? Is that not enough to run a $6.689.383 library system?

5. How do you expect to utilize the Annie G. Curran Endowment for the Mason Square Library when there is no library to speak of? Reason being that the endowment calls for use at a library edifice in the Mason Square area.

6. The Old Hill Neighborhood Council, neighborhood religious leaders, neighborhood business owners, and neighborhood school principals were left in the dark regarding the takeover. Was that ethical or even fair?

7. Do you feel it is the right thing to do to withhold requested information from the City Council's Study Committee? After all they are simply trying to get information to make the best recommendation to the city that they can.

I am intrigued by more but I digress. Our children at DeBerry deserve a full service library (with an emphasis on full service!) with increased hours of operation. Fridays are special days at DeBerry for our primary grades (Grades K - 2). On Fridays, our children visit The Mason Square Library and they are met with a qualified librarian who has an understanding of the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks to better serve our students. Our students are taught the value of libraries by the qualified staff at the Mason Square branch. When the SLMA and the Urban League reduce the number of volumes to 3,000 from their current amounts and to man the library with "volunteers", what are you saying to the students of DeBerry and their families? Are you stating that our children do not deserve a quality library because it is located in the Old Hill Neighborhood and since the community does not use it, we do not need it? Have you or your membership at the SLMA ever tried to drum up support for the Mason Square Library after the $1.2 million dollar face-lift`? This brings up another interesting point, why would you give up a building that you just renovated using city money?

A question will also arise regarding the archives that are located in the basement of the library. Historical data and documents are stored there in order to preserve a sense of history in the neighborhood and the city. Where would they go? Has any consideration or thought gone into the issue of the archives?

Needless to say I am opposed to the sale of the building but most importantly appalled by the way the ``business" was done regarding this matter. We teach our children to be honest and forthright; follow proper protocols in order to get things done in a proper manner. In essence follow the democratic process and see it through. This "sweetheart deal" teaches our children to circumvent rules, regulations, and guidelines for self-indulgent motives. Do you feel you are working with us or against us? You make the call.

IF you would like to speak to me personally, please feel free to contact me at 787-7592. To reach me by mail, please refer to the address listed on the letterhead. Looking forward to a response.

K

William N. DeBerry Elementary School

CC: Pastor Brett Snowden, Progressive Community Chapel

Pastor Howard John-Wesley, St. John's Congregational Church Pastor Willard Cofield, Alden Baptist Church

Pastor Nathaniel Smith, Third Baptist Church

Minister Yusuf Muhammad, Muhammad's Mosque #13 Benjamin Swan, State Representative

Henry Thomas, President, Urban League Sheila McElwaine

Charles Ryan Marjorie Guess Omega Johnson, President, Old Hill Neighborhood Council Richard Flynn, President, Springfield College

Frank Buntin, President, NAACP Morris Jones

Timothy Ryan Angelo Puppolo, Jr. Rosemarie Mazza - Moriarty