Libraries develop taxpayers, Mr. Mayor

So, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl believes the closure of libraries is "not a city of Pittsburgh problem" ("Library System Feels Pinch as City Limits Funding Pledge," May 12)?

For the mayor of the city of Pittsburgh to make such an inane comment on the subject of possible closure of Carnegie Library branches is outlandish. So what gives, Mayor Ravenstahl? The possible closure of libraries is a city of Pittsburgh problem, and it should be a problem in Mr. Ravenstahl's eyes.

The Carnegie Library system provides children, students and adults a safe haven for homework, reading the newspaper or even to escape in a novel for an afternoon. Libraries also provide computer access and as hard as it may be to believe, not everyone in the world has a computer. An underprivileged child who does not have access to a computer at home for homework is far behind the other students in the class, unless that enterprising student goes to a library. An underprivileged child who does not have the money to spend on new books at Barnes & Noble can check one out for free at a library.

Libraries are an essential educational asset. I only hope that City Council and Mayor Ravenstahl realize this before it's too late. After all, Pittsburgh children who are not well read eventually grow up to be Pittsburgh taxpayers who are also not well read. Pittsburgh is a center of art, theater and literature; let's try and keep it that way.

DEVON CONROY
Knoxville