Town Meeting: Amendment To Defund Library Equity Director Fails

READING, MA — An amendment to remove funding for the director of equity and social justice position at the Reading Public Library failed to pass Town Meeting. The amendment was introduced by member William Brown, who proposed reducing the library's budget by $70,000, which was allotted to the role.

The position, which was recommended by the Ad Hoc Committee on Human Rights in 2019 and approved by the Board of Library Trustees in December, has sparked debate over its necessity. The director would oversee the library's Division for Equity and Social Justice, which will incorporate the current Human Relations Advisory Committee to "educate, empower and connect community members regardless of their social, cultural or economic position," according to the library's website.

While some members pointed to existing groups that do the work of the proposed library division, others said there are not enough resources to effectively address the issues.

"We do have a problem in Reading. I think it's important to use our budget to demonstrate our will to handle this issue and not just speak about it," Precinct 5 member Annemarie Cory said.

The amendment failed by a vote of 44-130-4. The position will remain in the proposed budget, for which talks will continue Thursday.