The Friends of the Wareham Free Library, Inc. has been supporting the Wareham Free Library for more than thirty years. Our organization has raised money to purchase books, materials, computers, and furniture and to support adult and children’s programs both at the old library on High Street and the current Marion Road facility.

Recently, all non-profits in town who raise money for their organizations on town property were informed at a meeting with Mr. Powers, the town auditor, and Mr. Andrews, the Town Administrator, that until a Memo of Understanding (MOU) was created and signed and a 990 form turned in for each organization, no fund raising would be allowed on town property. The Friends immediately turned in our latest 990 form and requested an MOU as soon as possible.  While waiting for this MOU to be created, our monthly book sales were canceled by the Town Administrator.  The Friends are not even allowed to hang up a flyer in the library without going through the Town Administrator.  We wait weeks to find out if the Friends will even be permitted to sponsor a free program for library patrons.

We have met with the town administrator twice and our situation remains unresolved. When we pointed out that other non-profits were still allowed to raise money on town property and make purchases or donations for a town department, he and the town accountant informed us that they were not aware of this (even though at the selectmen’s meeting the night before, one of those organizations gave a report on its fundraising) and that all non-profits would have to get an MOU first. However, we now see in the local media that many of these organizations are announcing fund raisers on town property for the coming weeks and months.

While we are not opposed to these other organizations raising money on town property (the Friends of the Elderly, the Wareham Athletic Association, Community Arts in Action, Bourne Wareham Art Association, etc.) we feel that if these other organizations can continue to raise money and use town property without an MOU, then the Friends should be able to continue to do the same without an MOU. Fair is fair, and the Library Friends should not be treated any differently.

Groups and individuals for profit have recently held art sales in the library meeting room. Currently, they have an agreement with the town that gives ten percent of the profit to the library while the artists keep 90 percent. This violates the current Exhibition Policy that remains in place and was created by the former director and accepted as policy by the former trustees which requires a 20 percent donation. Since Mr. Andrews informed us that liability is one of the main issues involved here, why are these for profits allowed to make sales without an MOU? If they are on town property, they should be required to follow the rules as liability does not change if the group is for profit or non-profit.

The Friends believe that we are being treated unfairly as part of the ongoing vendetta against the library. The Acting Library Director has told several library patrons who have voiced their concerns over the book sale cancellations that the sales were canceled because the Friends are being investigated in the absurd embezzlement scheme created by a local tabloid writer for which there is no tangible evidence and no witnesses willing to come forward.  Apparently, the concept of innocent until proven guilty does not apply to the Friends. Incidently, while under “investigation,” the Friends have purchased more than $10,000 in books and materials for the library.

The truth is that the Friends (and former Trustees and current Wareham Library Foundation, Inc.) have been cooperating willingly with the Inspector General’s office since January to be cleared of any suggestion of wrong- doing. All financial records from 1991 to the present were turned over and several meetings and phone conversations have taken place with the forensic accountant/investigator. We are absolutely certain that the Inspector General’s office will find no evidence of wrong doing on our part particularly since the entire investigation is based on something that never happened.

All we ask is that everyone is treated fairly. If the town is not going to let an organization that has supported the library for so long to continue to raise money on town property for a town department without an MOU, then no organizations should be allowed to raise money on town property without an MOU.

The Friends will be holding its annual Used Book Sale on July 15-17 at the Old Methodist Meeting house near the Town Green on Main Street. Watch for further announcements for details.  It’s a shame that the Friends have to pay rent to hold a book sale to raise money for a town department.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Gleason, President

Nora Bicki, Past-President