To the Editor:
On June 8, we who live in Waldoboro have a chance to reaffirm our public library’s importance by voting for town funding.
The $78,000 requested-the same amount asked and voted last year-has been approved by the town’s budget committee and will cover little more than the $76,180 needed to pay the five staff members who work faithfully for part time salaries without benefits. The library’s Board goes to the private sector to fund building and equipment maintenance, books, and programs.
Anyone who doubts that the town’s money is well spent should drop in: on the Wednesday morning story-and-craft hour where young children and their mothers gather; on an adult literacy tutorial; on one of the many instances where a staff member helps a patron find his way around a computer-where free Internet and e-mail access are always available-or the stacks in search of books, audiotapes, or reference materials.
Along with the new rec center, our library provides a stable source of stimulation for our children. It supplies crucial information and recreational reading-as well as reading and math instruction free to any resident.
The Waldoboro Public Library is the town’s quiet center. It has proved its value in the ever increasing number of regular patrons, and it will be attractive to business seeking to move in here and bring jobs to the area. We can’t afford to turn down this budget. Please vote yes for the Library.
Brooke Pacy
Waldoboro
