Everyone deserves opportunities for success. If county
supervisors ultimately close the library on Saturdays, as they have
discussed, it would deliver more harm than benefit while taking
away a valuable outlet for the people who need it most.
Everyone deserves opportunities for success. If county supervisors ultimately close the library on Saturdays, as they have discussed, it would deliver more harm than benefit while taking away a valuable outlet for the people who need it most.
Of all the budget cuts broached by county officials, this one makes the least sense and would save a pittance compared with the lost investment, and the lost chances for the area’s youths and others looking to better themselves.
County officials haven’t pulled the trigger yet, but it remains possible in light of wide-ranging fee increases at the library as well to offset budget woes.
A steadily rising demand under the leadership of Librarian Nora Conte shows that residents need and want this service. The community as a whole needs and wants this service because it is a solidified investment for the future.
It’s easy to target an institution such as the library when tough times call for cuts. County officials, though, would be wise to consider other options to save a similar dollar amount. Even within the library culture, why not examine the possibility of seeking out more volunteers – such as the already dedicated group from the Friends of the Library – to help fill the hours at a lower cost?
Inevitably, such a cut would hurt the people who need the library most. The savings in this case is far outweighed by the social and intellectual costs to San Benito County.
