To the editor,

An open letter to the Town of Wareham.

The Wareham Area Clergy Association provides a place for the pastors of the Christian churches of the greater Wareham area to gather for mutual encouragement and shared ministry to our town.

We provide weekly chapel services at three nursing homes, chaplaincy services at Tobey Hospital, ecumenical services for Easter Sunrise and the National Day of Prayer, and shelter for the homeless during the winter months through our Nights of Hospitality shelters.

In a culture that is often dominated by material needs, hectic schedules and the drive to succeed at any cost we provide a voice for the spiritual values that are the foundation for all else. Through our various endeavors it is our goal to improve the quality of life for everyone who calls Wareham home.

One of the quality of life we feel strongly about is literacy. A free, public library is a key part of this issue. We add our voice to those calling for a change to the priorities in our Town budget in order to continue funding the Wareham Free Library at the level necessary to maintain state certification, employ an excellent staff, and open its doors for full-time use by our community.

The Wareham Free Library currently serves as the de facto library for the elementary and middle schools in Wareham since these facilities do not have their own libraries. Closing or underfunding the library means the loss of educational resources for the teachers and students in our schools at the very time they need them most.

The library provides computer and internet access to those who cannot afford this equipment or service. Librarians provide assistance with negotiating online media outlets for those who lack these skills or knowledge.

The library also provides an important communal gathering space for children, teens and adults. In our increasingly isolated lifestyles we need places where people can come together to learn, share ideas and enjoy one another’s company.

These and many other factors have convinced us that the Wareham Free Library is essential for the literacy of our community. Public funding is required in order to maintain state accreditation, so funding the library through private funds alone is not an option.

We need the Town budget to be involved. We encourage the citizens of Wareham to raise their voices so that funding an excellent free library in Wareham will once again be a priority in our Town budget.

Sincerely yours,

David Shaw, Secretary
Wareham Clergy Association