1. MASON SQUARE LIBRARY: BRIEF HISTORY – page 1
1952 Annie G. Curran leaves money in her will to build & maintain a public library in Winchester Square
1955 New Winchester Square Library opens
1999 SLMA receives $550,000 public bond for MSL renovations
Oct. 18, 2001 Mason Square Library Grand Reopening
Fall 2002 Urban League & SLMA begin negotiations on sale of MSL building
Jan Henry Thomas & David Starr meet privately with community leaders – tell them sale is irreversible

2. MASON SQUARE LIBRARY: BRIEF HISTORY – page 2
March 2003 City Council sets up Library Study Committee after SLMA reduces library hours
April 9, 2003 – Morning: Joe Carvalho tells Library Advisory Board “the sale is not carved in stone”
April 9, 2003 – Afternoon: Purchase and Sale Agreement is signed by SLMA executives
April 10, 2003 – SLMA issues press release on sale
May 22, Henry Thomas advises City Council of sale

3. MASON SQUARE LIBRARY: BRIEF HISTORY – page 3
May 2003 Attorney General of Mass. declines to intervene; says only Spfd Mayor can challenge sale
July 2003 City takes over library system
Jan Charles V. Ryan takes office as Mayor
March 2004 MSLAC established by 5 neighborhood councils surrounding Mason Square
April 2005 Mayor Ryan and City of Springfield file lawsuit against SLMA regarding sale of Mason Square Library