By Ryan O’Malley, Malden City Councillor

Dear residents of Malden,

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your patience and steadfast support during this time. Your trust and encouragement have been invaluable, and I remain fully committed to keeping you informed and engaged as we navigate this process together.

Recently, I have taken decisive and necessary steps, both legal and non-legal, to safeguard public assets held in trust for the benefit of the people of Malden by the Trustees of the Malden Public Library. These actions were not only essential but also reflect an unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and the public good. At every step, I was advised by the Malden City Solicitor’s Office on the correct steps to take to protect the public interest in the public property located at the Malden Public Library. Additionally, I was informed by the recent determination by the Attorney General of the Commonwealth that the Malden Public Library is a public entity subject to the Open Meeting Law.

Did you know that the current Trustees and Library Director claim that the Malden PUBLIC Library is a private entity unaccountable to the people of Malden?

Did you know that the Trustees claim to spend 90% of their time buying and selling OUR PUBLIC ASSETS (e.g., precious art and historic documents) and claim to only spend 10% of their time managing the PUBLIC library?

I spent months trying to obtain access to public documents such as meeting minutes, annual reports, and an inventory of the public assets held by the Trustees. For six months, I was stonewalled. For over a century and a half, the people of Malden through our Town and then City government, have contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to the creation, expansion, and restoration of the Malden Public Library. We have also contributed priceless art, artifacts, books, and records to the library as our only functional archive. It has now come to light that the Trustees and Director believe that they alone own these public assets privately. It is an absurd proposition and, if allowed to stand, may represent the largest dispossession of public assets in the history of our community. Maybe the largest in the Commonwealth.

As you know, this situation has been challenging, but it has also been revealing. It has brought to light the true character of those involved, and I believe this moment serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of integrity, fairness, and responsibility. These values guide me, and they will continue to do so as I move forward advocating for the protection of our beloved Malden Public Library.

Let me be clear: the truth will prevail. I am confident that as the facts come to light, justice will be served. We the people of Malden will emerge from this stronger, more united, and more determined than ever to uphold the principles we have stood for since before the American Revolution. On May 27, 1776, the people of Malden declared “that if [the continental congress] should declare America to be a free and independent republic, your constituents will support and defend the measure, to the last drop of their blood, and the last farthing of their treasure.” The people of Malden were instrumental in the founding of our republic and would die defending the republic from enemies foreign and domestic.

It’s important to remember that republic comes from two Latin words: res publica. Res meaning things. Publica meaning public. Together, the things of the public. Now, is the time to help defend our public things – our public assets – OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY.

To provide further clarity and address any questions, I will be holding a question-and-answer session on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at 6 p.m. outside the Malden Public Library at 36 Salem Street. I look forward to speaking with you directly and continuing this important dialogue.

Thank you again for standing with me. Together, we will move forward with the strength and purpose to ensure future generations of Maldonians have access to our history and public assets.