After separating from the Peterborough Public Library, the Sharon Select Board discussed putting several options to provide townspeople with library services, which will be decided at Town Meeting this year.
The Select Board decided not to renew its annual contract with the Peterborough Public Library this year. In previous years, for the lump sum of $10,560, any resident of Sharon could get a Peterborough library card.
Select Board Chair Carl Newton told residents who attended the board’s most recent meeting on Friday that the decision had been made because of upcoming expenses coming from other Peterborough contracts, such as the expected construction of a new fire station, which is expected to cost $7 million.
Newton also said the cost of remaining with the Peterborough Public Library was likely to go up in the future, as there have long been discussions of raising the cost to bring Sharon more in line with what other out-of-town residents pay.
“The future in Peterborough is going to be very expensive for us,” Newton said.
On Friday, the board discussed several options to replace the Peterborough library, including a contract with the Jaffrey Public Library.
The board received an offer from the Jaffrey Public Library to provide cards for Sharon residents for a lump sum of $3,750 per year.
Selectwoman Linda Paris said some residents had checked out the Jaffrey Public Library, and had given “glowing” responses to the service there.
The board also discussed creating a fund of up to $5,000, and giving residents the option of which library they would like to join, and reimbursing their annual fees.
The Select Board said they planned to give voters the choice between whether to join the Jaffrey Library or have a reimbursement fund by having warrant articles for both options to be voted on at Town Meeting in March.
Sharon resident Ted O’Brien said he was glad there would be an alternative for residents. “Access to a library is critical to a town,” he said.
Selectwoman Diane Callahan agreed, saying, “We don’t want people to have to move out of town to have these kinds of perks.”
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.