City library’s book van should stay in service
As an avid reader I was interested in the article detailing proposed budget cuts at our library.
It seems penny-wise and pound-foolish to save $115,000 by cutting services crucial to our city’s children.
The article states that the reading railroad van circulates 6,000 items per month (72,000 per year), serves 67 day care centers, many of which are home day-cares.
The reading railroad is one of the library system’s busiest branches. Look at the picture in the paper and see the delight on the children’s faces as they jump on the bus and visit with the librarian.
Why in the world would we want to lose that much joy for reading and all the promise that brings to a child all of his or her life?
Please don’t throw the babies out with the bath water.
Nancy Wilkinson
Greensboro
Comments (7)
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If children learn to read, Nancy, it will destroy the future of blog-debate.
Posted on May 27, 2009 5:34 AM
I agree with Nancy. I grew up in an isolated rural area with the closest library 25 miles away. One of my fondest childhood memories is the arrival of the bookmobile every month. In her later years, my mother did very little driving. The bookmobile was such a joy to her. The driver knew what my mother liked to read and would pick out books for her and bring then in the house. She also took the time to have tea with mama. As the TV ad says, those things are priceless.
Posted on May 27, 2009 6:35 AM
Day care centers are private businesses. Could they not check out their own books, or even buy them?
I think the reading library is cool. But, right now, cuts have to be made. Where would you make them?
From an environmental standpoint, one less gas-guzzling bus on the road sounds like a good thing.
One last thought. If people are interested in saving the reading railroad, why not start a fundraiser? If all the daycares and others chipped in a little, it seems like $115,000 wouldn't be too much to raise.
Heck, I'd even chip in $5 myself and I drive to the library to get my books.
Posted on May 27, 2009 8:39 AM
The bookmobile was my introduction to the library. We need to keep bookmobiles in the community especially at a time like this.
Posted on May 27, 2009 8:56 AM
"The bookmobile was such a joy to her. The driver knew what my mother liked to read and would pick out books for her and bring then in the house. She also took the time to have tea with mama."
Bribing a government worker for favoritism. Good thing the statute of limitations has expired.
Posted on May 27, 2009 9:29 AM
Taking the Bookmobile off the road would only hurt the children of our city. This service is greatly needed and I am sure appreciated by the day cares it does get to. Please do not take this away.
Posted on May 27, 2009 11:26 AM
Yet another letter bemoaning a cut in govt. services. I'm sure this is a nice service but the city, unlike the Feds, realizes it's in dire straights and has to cut some expenditures. What would you suggest, they lay off a few cops?
I didn't even know our tax money is used to provide books to private day cares but it's not surprising.
truth brings up an excellent suggestion, if this service is deemed so important by it's supporters then why don't they start a fundraiser?
Part of the fundraiser could be based upon book donations. We end up with a lot of books that our kids outgrow and would be glad to donate them to such a program. I'm sure many other parents would do so as well.
Another suggestion would be yard sales. We have seen tons of childrens books at yard sales. You can always find a nearby yard sale and the prices are cheap.
So Ms. Wilkinson, instead of relying on govt. to provide this service and bemoaning the fact that it no longer can, please be creative and take an initiative to do something about it. You and others who helped could be proud of your accomplishments.
Posted on May 27, 2009 4:07 PM