It has come to my attention that the Crawford County Library Board has been asked to consider reducing the tax levy that supports the system. I’m writing to urge anyone who has ever used the library to consider reaching out to them in support of maintaining the necessary funding.
My mother passed away in April. She was 92. Prior to her passing, her one source of entertainment, information, distraction, quality of life, was to read. Because of her Parkinson’s, she could only read print books in large print form. This type of book is rare and expensive, but thanks to the Crawford Country Library system, I was able to keep her in reading material. Many, many seniors in our area with limited resources depend on the library for print and digital access. And that would be reason enough to fully fund our libraries.
We live in a time of disinformation, confusion and division. Libraries exist precisely for this reason. They house the collective wisdom of the world and in contemporary times provide digital access, resources and guidance. And that would be reason enough to fully fund our libraries.
As a retired English teacher, I have devoted my life to literacy. I know first hand how difficult it is to persuade adolescents to close their laptops, lay down their phones, and engage in active learning. This summer I have been amazed at the numbers of children and youth who have participated in Crawford County Library summer programming. Our county libraries go above and beyond to bring people together to learn and explore. And that would be reason enough to fully fund our libraries.
But dear neighbors and fellow citizens these are only the obvious and surface reasons for maintaining the maximum library tax levy allowed by law. The truth is we can’t afford NOT to fully support our library. Literacy in America is dropping. We are surrounded with information but truth is hard to find. And in times of political and economic stress, we need healthy, wholesome, distraction.
In the U.S.A. we don’t just fund libraries when we easily can. We fund libraries always and everywhere. Because freedom of information is the essence of freedom. I therefore implore you to resist any urge to reduce funding. No good can come of it. And I leave you with the words of brighter minds than mine. May we always have access to their collective wisdom.
"I have often thought that nothing would do more extensive good at small expense than the establishment of a circulating library in every county, to consist of a few well-chosen books, to be lent to the people of the country under regulations as would secure their safe return in due time." - Thomas Jefferson
"I have an unshaken conviction that democracy can never be undermined if we maintain our library resources and a national intelligence capable of utilizing them." - Franklin D. Roosevelt, in a letter to publisher Herbert Putnam
"The libraries of America are and must ever remain the home of free and inquiring minds. To them, our citizens - of all ages and races, of all creeds and persuasions - must be able to turn with clear confidence that there they can freely seek the whole truth, unvarnished by fashion and uncompromised by expediency." - Dwight D. Eisenhower
I urge all library patrons to take action to preserve our libraries. Please send an email or snail mail to the Crawford County Library Board ASAP. Send letters to: Crawford County Library District, PO Box 1250 Steelville, MO 65565. Send emails to board@crawfordcountylibrarydistrict.org
Or you can attend in person. The board meets in open session at 10 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 24 at Steelville library. Thanks for taking a few moments in support of public libraries.
Sue Busch
Cuba
