When I arrived at work this morning I commenced with my first morning ritual: checking the news. I pulled up the Star Bulletin home page and suddenly these words were staring right at me, “Libraries plot ways to manage slimmed budget.” Slimmed budget?! I’m not exactly sure why this headline jumped out at me since it certainly wasn’t the top story, but I’d venture to guess it has something to do with the library loyalties I’ve displayed recently on this blog (see Library Lover I and II). It would seem that I have libraries on the brain, and that they need as much loyalty as they can get.
A short summary of the story reads,
A $2.1 million budget cut to the state’s public library system will lead to fewer books on shelves and possibly delay the filling of vacant jobs, officials say.
To meet the shortfall, library officials are proposing slashing $400,000 for books, more than $180,000 in staff vacancies and turnover, and $600,000 in energy-saving projects. Read the complete story.
My first reaction to this story as I read it was, No, No, No! Less books?! We don’t need less books, we need more! But I also realize that our economic times are tight and sacrifices need to be made somewhere. It simply pains me to see yet another instance of slashed funding for books, the arts and education. Libraries are extremely important to our society as places for the enrichment of minds, wholesome entertainment, and teaching young children the joys of reading. So many of our American children are being raised on video games and useless T.V. shows. I can’t bear to see our libraries lose even more footing due to lack of funds.
I don’t have an easy answer. I see so much wealth flying around, tossed to and fro in our country like it’s nothing. I have a hard time understanding why services pertaining to the arts, humanities and education always suffer first when budget cuts come. Where is all the money going? This isn’t a tirade against our state’s tax appropriation, it’s just me being sad.
As a regular visitor to the Hawaii State Library I am immensely thankful for their books and many services. I’ve noticed that their collections aren’t as complete as some libraries I’ve patronized in the past, but I can’t blame them. Look what’s happening again. They can’t stock more books because there simply isn’t enough money.
I may not have the answer to such problems but I can guess the effects. If libraries continue to lose funding, what will they be like when my children are in school? What about my grandchildren? Will reading habits among our young people continue to decline until they’re obsolete? Will they decline even if libraries retain full funding?
I’m even more convinced now that a love of reading must be bred at home. My family, for one, will continue to patronize the public library as long as at least one book remains on a shelf. Today I value my library a little more, and I sincerely hope she won’t get too skinny on this diet!
I am stirred to run down to my local library and get in deep with all of my favorite books there. Also I feel grateful now to have such an extensive selection. You make me pause to think. I have been found to say on numerous occasions that the library is the most expensive free service I have ever used. It is much due to the fact that I like to really hang out with a book after I have devoured it and also a justification for me to buy books, as I LOVE to buy books. I go to borders three times a week when I am in a regular routine, more if I am not busy. Good words, I say, HEAR! HEAR!