City, step up

Despite cuts in hours, I breathed a sigh of relief when I read that "my" library, Woods Run, was not one of the branches slated to close. The library is a place of inestimable value to me personally and to our community as a whole.

We receive excellent services, which range from the mere loaning of books to community outreach in our schools promoting literacy to helping members of the community become computer literate, from a well-educated, well-trained staff - and all free. I can thus sympathize with and understand the anger, shock and outrage of those who are losing their libraries.

What I cannot understand, however, is Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's intimation that if the Carnegie Library had only spent its money more wisely, it would not now be in this situation. Rather than an audit of the library, I propose instead an audit of the city's budget to see from where the city will be able to provide long-term, sustainable financial support.

I propose that the city demonstrate its commitment to the well-being of its citizens by auctioning off the four LRAD devices used during the G-20 summit. This money could seed a city fund that could directly support our libraries. Furthermore, by ridding themselves of these devices, the use of which horrified and outraged many, the city could hope to draw matching funds from various community groups.

 

 

REBECCA CEPEK

Woods Run