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May 1, 2010

Residents must join the fight to save libraries

Letters to the Editor
dailyjournal.com
May 1, 2010

I am writing this letter in the hope that it may help to spread public awareness of an issue that has recently come up regarding the proposed 2011 New Jersey state budget, and the budget's negative effect on the New Jersey Public Library System.

If they go forward with the budget as is, there will be a 74 percent decrease in funding for New Jersey's libraries, which will have a disastrous impact on the ability of the libraries to continue to provide the public with the services it depends upon.

In the current economy, I've been struggling for some time to gain employment, and I know that many others are currently dealing with similar circumstances. For me, it has meant relying on family for financial support. It also, of course, means not having the money to afford the non-essentials of life, the little things that help to make life enjoyable. For example, although I am an avid reader, I currently cannot afford to go to bookstores and buy books. So in these particularly depressing and difficult economic times, the local library has become the one place I can afford to go for the entertainment, and escape to read a good book.

The library serves not only as a place of learning opportunities, but also a source of entertainment, at a time when these things might otherwise be financially out of reach for myself, and others who find themselves struggling with their current financial situation. I honestly cannot imagine how bad things would beif the libraries were not there and able to offer the services that they provide, particularly at a time like this.

The libraries' Internet access allowed me to access my transcripts and to go back to school, and become a registered medical assistant. For many others, also, the library provides much-needed Internet access, and the ability to complete, and/or furthertheir education and seek employment. Without the help that the libraries provide, even more of us might be out of work.
For all of these reasons, and I'm sure some I may not have mentioned, I strongly believe that we must save our libraries from this potential disaster. They are a vital and necessary part of our communities, and we will all lose if we allow our libraries to lose their state funding.

Mary-Ann Maronski
Berlin

Posted by tumulty at May 1, 2010 12:12 PM

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