To the editor:

I am writing to respond to the part of the Woolwich budget story in the May 10 edition of The Times Record (“Voters endorse $1.5M budget”) about the funding of Patten Free Library.

First, I want to agree completely with David Miller of the Patten Free Library board when he says that he believes in “free access to library services.” We in Phippsburg believe so strongly in free access that we are the only small community in this area to fully fund and provide our own free public library.

We also belong to Regional School Unit 1 and through our assessment, we help provide library services and personnel at seven schools. In addition, we proudly support a private nonprofit summer library at Popham Beach.

We were not the first local community to question Patten Free Library’s annual demand. I use the word “demand” because that’s what it is.

Patten Free sets the rules, the formula and makes a specific demand for a specific sum of money. We asked their representatives to meet and study their formula with regard to our demanded assessment.

They did not and the town voted to provide the library with $25,000 in a year when we were cutting resources from our fire, police, rescue and just about every other town department.

We were informed that they would refuse the $25,000 and throw us out. Fortunately, we have a fine facility and won’t miss a beat.

William R. Perkins,
Phippsburg

letters@timesrecord.com