Each individual would be allowed to tap the fund for $20; however, the cost of an individual membership at Patten Free is $40.  For a family of four, the cost of joining the library would be $160. 

The other logical choice for Woolwich families would be the Wiscasset Public Library, which charges $30 per family membership.  Woolwich also may explore the option of joining the smaller Wiscasset Library as a town, for a cost of $22,000, roughly half of the cost to belong to Patten Free. 

For the Patten Free Library, this means that $43,000 potentially will be removed from their $667,036 annual budget, a budget that has been stretched in recent months due to a fall-off of private funding, largely related to the dismissal of children’s librarian Nyree Thomas in September.  Her agreement to a mediated settlement will also add additional stress on the budget.  Thomas will receive a six-month severance package, an eighteen-month health care package, and funds to continue her education or to receive career counseling.  Director Anne Phillips, too, will receive some education or counseling, which will also come out of the Library’s budget.

Towns typically pay 40% of the budget, which, for Woolwich, came out to $15.10 per resident, based on the 2000 census.  The other towns that pay into the Patten Free Library are Bath, Arrowsic, Georgetown, West Bath, and Phippsburg, with a 2008-2009 total request to all six towns of nearly $272,000.

Patten Free Library assessed the town of Woolwich for 1,373 cardholders. According to information given by Trustee Vice Chair David Miller and Director Anne Phillips, however, only 735 Woolwich residents used their cards in 2007-2008, and 919 used their cards in 2006-2007.

Selectman Todd McPhee said that the selectmen had tried to get the library to answer some questions, including a list of current cardholders, to no avail.  "We wanted some figures, and the figures kept changing," he said. "We felt they were giving us the run-around. They didn't send anyone over to answer some of our questions."

McPhee cited two different numbers given when the town asked how many Woolwich residents carried Patten Free Library cards. He asked how the system is updated. He was told if someone hasn't used their card in the last year or so, they are purged from the system, until they come in again and reregister.

"Why are we still being assessed for over 1,300 cardholders?" McPhee wondered. "We are being given a number from three years ago."

In terms of the overall impact of the decision by Woolwich, Trustee Vice Chair David Miller did not believe it was critical to the Library’s operating budget.  He stated the annual fundraising goal of $80,000 is ‘on track’.  “We have the upcoming book sale by the Friends of the Library, and individual and business donations.  Our Saturday series [a program by which local businesses support keeping the library open on Saturdays] has also been well-received.”

Miller said that he is unaware of any other town considering the same kind of action. “Woolwich seems to be the only town that will not permit discussion at the town meetings,” he said. Miller said that he was surprised and disappointed by the board’s decision.

“I am surprised, because I thought we had explained our position regarding the selectmen’s demand for the names and addresses of cardholders to their satisfaction.  We attended four meetings altogether, and explained our position, that without a legal warrant, we believed it was contrary to the civil liberties of our patrons.”

There is no law in Maine that prevents the names of cardholders to be given out, although the materials the cardholder accesses are protected.  Still, most libraries in Maine protect the names and addresses of cardholders as well on fourth amendment grounds.

“I am also disappointed,” Miller went on, “because the selectmen could have taken the opportunity to purchase library privileges for their townspeople at half the cost it will be now.  We are deeply concerned at Patten Free that the library will be unavailable to families who need it.”

A petition drive, headed by trustee Janine Lipfert, is underway to reverse the decision of the Select board and allow the issue to be discussed at the town meeting.  A total of 155 Woolwich resident signatures are required by Friday to meet the challenge.  As of press time, that number had not been reached, but Lipfert was confident that the number would be reached by the Friday deadline.  “We just think people should have the chance to hash it out,” Lipfert said.