Aldermen to mayor: Close libraries if you must, but leave the books

The Board of Aldermen approved a resolution Wednesday night asking Mayor David B. Cohen to leave books from Newton's four neighborhood libraries where they are when the branches close.

The satellite libraries are scheduled to close at the end of the month due to budget cuts in the wake of last month's failed $12 million property tax override.

Dozens of people attended a public meeting with the board Wednesday, most of them asking aldermen to keep the branches open. Advocates called the branches an integral part of their local communities and said they are more accessible than the main library in Newton Centre for people who have disabilities or who are lacking transportation.

The aldermen are scheduled to discuss other resolutions, including ones that address the possibility of keeping the branches open, as their budget discussions continue tonight and Monday.

Board of Aldermen meetings are covered live by the Red Channel of the NewTV cable access network.

-- Rachana Rathi