News
Opinion
A recent article about the Board of Supervisors requesting proposals for our six community libraries to be run by private, for-profit companies concerns me greatly.
Our libraries are the heart of our communities. It takes knowledgeable librarians to help patrons find the pieces of information they seek in the overwhelming data fields of our Internet age. Libraries are somewhat like the comfortable livingroom of our communities and, as someone recently wrote, “a welcome oasis in an era of social isolation.” It is hard for me to understand how these valuable community assets can be managed cheaper or more effectively from Germantown, Md., or Beverly Hills.
When the Empire Mine State Park was threatened with closure, as apparently two of our libraries might be, the existence of the dedicated docent-volunteers of the Empire Mine Park Association was a lifesaver. I feel strongly that our citizens who might be shocked at this seemingly outlandish-outsourcing of our libraries could respond in a similar manner to produce the community involvement needed to keep our libraries as they are.
Proposals by these outside companies are to reach the Board of Supervisors by Nov. 19. From the article it sounds as though the Board is prepared to act on what might be the one proposal of which they are aware.
Retaining these libraries with the quality of care we have received and expect is of great importance to our entire community. It is timely that all of us who use our library services express that now to the Supervisors. A call to 265-1480 could put you in touch with your Supervisor, or you could e-mail: bdofsupervisors@co.nevada.ca.us.
Virginia Brunini
Grass Valley
Our libraries are the heart of our communities. It takes knowledgeable librarians to help patrons find the pieces of information they seek in the overwhelming data fields of our Internet age. Libraries are somewhat like the comfortable livingroom of our communities and, as someone recently wrote, “a welcome oasis in an era of social isolation.” It is hard for me to understand how these valuable community assets can be managed cheaper or more effectively from Germantown, Md., or Beverly Hills.
When the Empire Mine State Park was threatened with closure, as apparently two of our libraries might be, the existence of the dedicated docent-volunteers of the Empire Mine Park Association was a lifesaver. I feel strongly that our citizens who might be shocked at this seemingly outlandish-outsourcing of our libraries could respond in a similar manner to produce the community involvement needed to keep our libraries as they are.
Proposals by these outside companies are to reach the Board of Supervisors by Nov. 19. From the article it sounds as though the Board is prepared to act on what might be the one proposal of which they are aware.
Retaining these libraries with the quality of care we have received and expect is of great importance to our entire community. It is timely that all of us who use our library services express that now to the Supervisors. A call to 265-1480 could put you in touch with your Supervisor, or you could e-mail: bdofsupervisors@co.nevada.ca.us.
Virginia Brunini
Grass Valley
