I have a heavy heart today.
My town, like many small towns across the country, is struggling financially. Residents voted recently (and vehemently) to restrict the amount of money the town can appropriate via taxes. As a result, heart-wounding and community-dividing decisions are in our future. Like closing our library, like closing our senior center, like cutting art and music programming from our schools, like short-changing community safety.
I am sick over the idea of losing my library, to say nothing of the decisions I would then have to make. But how do I tell my neighbors that my need for library access is more important than a music director for their child’s school band? How can any community choose between fire fighters and police officers? Between schoolchildren and senior citizens?
I have come to believe there are no right or wrong answers in this situation, only difficult and gut-wrenching decisions. At this point my fondest wish is that we find a way to make them honestly and respectfully and with the thoughtfulness they deserve.
So … if you have a local library, support it! The American Library Association has some great ideas for how, including writing your Congressperson and letting them know how important local libraries are. Find more information and other ideas here.
