HAVERHILL LIBRARIES AND THE LAW

Ignored Libraries

Despite the evident great need for library planning, the Haverhill planning board has declined to give any thought to libraries. Despite libraries being a major means of transmitting heritage, the Haverhill Heritage Commission likewise gives them no thought. Despite the supposed educational value of libraries, the school board ignores library affairs. In many towns, libraries work hand in hand with historical societies to preserve and disseminate local history materials. The Haverhill libraries do not, and show little interest in local historical information.

The library trustees have so divorced themselves from a community process that voters treat libraries with great indifference. Only about 15% of the people have enough interest to go to a library, and they are evidently the people who are satisfied with the very minimal service that the libraries have traditionally offered. They see the libraries as doing nothing more than lending novels and the most popular non-fiction. The libraries are virtually a dead issue in official Haverhill and in 85% of the population. They also seem to be a dead issue even among the 15% of those who use the libraries. No one steps forth as friends or supporters of the libraries except the trustees who isolate themselves from those they pretend to serve. The trustees generally have no expertise in library administration and do not consult anyone who does.