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Shawn O'Neil, library trustee candidate, highlights accessibility and outreach including a mobile library idea
Summary
In a TV interview on Brookline Interactive Group, candidate Shawn O'Neil said improving handicapped and elderly access and exploring a mobile library are top priorities; he cited town‑service experience and participation on local advisory boards as preparation for the trustee role.
Shawn O'Neil, a candidate for the Brookline Board of Library Trustees, told host State Representative Tommy Vitolo on TV on TV that accessibility and outreach would be central to his work if elected.
O'Neil described long ties to the town — moving to Brookline at age 11 and living there more than 30 years — and said he has worked in multiple town roles, including assignments at the police station, library and courthouse. He also said he participates in the senior center and serves on local boards, naming the housing advisory board and a shared mobility board among his public‑service roles.
Asked why he wanted to run, O'Neil said the trustee role is a positive challenge and an opportunity to influence programs and budgets. He stressed improving access for handicapped and elderly residents, saying he would "propose another way for handicapped, elderly, and all of us to be able to go to the library and feel good about" using facilities and services. He recommended outreach such as bringing services to the senior center and said he would examine budget priorities to support accessibility.
O'Neil also suggested exploring a mobile library or similar outreach to bring library services to residents who do not regularly visit branches. He connected trustee budget responsibility with program innovation: trustees can propose new programs and budget allocations that expand access.
O'Neil cited his town‑meeting experience and public‑speaking skills as assets for the trustee role. The interview concluded with a reminder that voters may choose four candidates from five in the upcoming municipal election on Tuesday, May 5; polls were described as open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
