Sharon residents will now have to pay an out-of-town fee to be a member of the Peterborough Public Library.
During its December 18 meeting, the Sharon Select Board voted to sign a letter to the Peterborough Library of Trustees withdrawing from its contract to receive library services for the entire town.
The decision is related mainly to cost, Select Board member Diane Callahan said in an interview Monday.
“We’re a very small town, and very concerned about the taxes,” she said.
Since 2014, Sharon paid $10,560 per year for library services. Library Director Corinne Chronopoulos said in an interview Monday that agreement would have continued into 2019, had Sharon not withdrawn.
The agreement is based on a formula of a flat fee for all residents, which amounts to a cost of $35 per person, which is a discount from the $68 non-resident fee charged to other towns.
Chronopoulos said in the past, the Library Trustees have discussed implementing a step-up increase in fees for Sharon to bring them closer to the $68 per-person fee, but had tabled that conversation until after the library completed major renovations to the space. The library will be moving to a temporary location this year, anticipated to be on Vose Farm Road, while renovations are completed, and Chronopoulos said budget discussions about Sharon’s fee were placed on hold until the library was back at its permanent location.
Sharon receives several contracted services from Peterborough, including police, fire and ambulance services, the recycling center and the library.
Sharon is already anticipating the potential increase in cost from the fire and ambulance department, as Peterborough is proposing a new facility for the fire and rescue station as soon as three years from now, with an estimated cost of $7 million. Callahan said those potential upcoming expenses played into the decision to withdraw from the library this year.
Susan Bosk of Sharon said she is disappointed by the vote.
“We have lived in Sharon for 10 years. We are regulars at the Peterborough library,” she said Monday.
With two young daughters, ages 7 and 5, Bosk said they are there at least once a week.
Bosk said her family will now have to pay an annual fee of $68 to continue using the library.
“We are disappointed that the town of Sharon voted this way,” Bosk said.
Chronopoulos said neither she nor the library Trustees had discussed the withdrawal with the Sharon board prior to receiving written notice of the withdrawal.
Chronopoulos said the loss of revenue is not expected to impact the library in the coming year.
“At this point, we’re not trimming anything due to the loss of revenue. Because we’re anticipating a move, a lot of things will be happening with our operating expenses, and we’ll be able to absorb the loss,” she said.
She also anticipates at least some of the 93 residents of Sharon who currently hold a library card will apply for a new one and pay the non-resident fee, which will lessen the loss, she said.
As of Tuesday, Jan. 15, Sharon residents will no longer be considered residential members of the library, and will have to purchase a card for the non-resident fee, Chronopoulos said.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.