Letter to the Editor - Library Levy
June 29, 2016
I am writing in regards to the article in the paper about changing the hours of the library.
First of all, I have been going to the library in Cassville since I was five years old and I am now a grandmother and have been taking my grand-babies to the Cassville library nearly every Saturday. I am trying to give them memories of how great the library is and how wonderful books are. They are three and five and ask me no matter if it is in the evening when they are at my house or Sunday, if we can go to the library. They will NOT understand that the library will no longer be open on Saturdays, our day to go there and enjoy it.
The idea of the libraries being closed on Saturdays is so disappointing as many parents and grandparents work, and Saturdays are the only day they can get to the library. My idea is that they close on Mondays and open on Saturday, or open a half day on Saturday instead of all day? I am writing about the Cassville Library regarding these changes. The woman at the Monett branch said there were more people Monday through Friday at the library. I don’t think this is the point...You aren’t making money on how many people come to the library, but you are leaving out LOTS of people that DO GO to the library on Saturdays. When we are at the Cassville Library on Saturday, it is pretty packed!
I voted for the increase and will do so again, but to know this subject of library hours has already been brought to the board by someone else and they were dismissive towards her is very, very discouraging to me. I understand the library board meetings are during the mornings, once again eliminating anyone who works from attending them. Now, I have found out the next board meeting, after today, isn’t until August. I was also told this change in hours is a “trial” period August through December. Don’t they realize that changing hours like that and then trying to reopen on Saturdays will NOT help the attendance? People are so easily conditioned they will just go, “Oh, well, we will just go do something else.” Then the day will come and the library will only be open two days a week due to the “attendance” then one, then perhaps none.
When this tax levy comes up again in April, let’s all get out and vote “YES” to save our libraries.
Thank you,
Jan Anthony, Cassville
I am writing in regards to the article in the paper about changing the hours of the library.
First of all, I have been going to the library in Cassville since I was five years old and I am now a grandmother and have been taking my grand-babies to the Cassville library nearly every Saturday. I am trying to give them memories of how great the library is and how wonderful books are. They are three and five and ask me no matter if it is in the evening when they are at my house or Sunday, if we can go to the library. They will NOT understand that the library will no longer be open on Saturdays, our day to go there and enjoy it.
The idea of the libraries being closed on Saturdays is so disappointing as many parents and grandparents work, and Saturdays are the only day they can get to the library. My idea is that they close on Mondays and open on Saturday, or open a half day on Saturday instead of all day? I am writing about the Cassville Library regarding these changes. The woman at the Monett branch said there were more people Monday through Friday at the library. I don’t think this is the point...You aren’t making money on how many people come to the library, but you are leaving out LOTS of people that DO GO to the library on Saturdays. When we are at the Cassville Library on Saturday, it is pretty packed!
I voted for the increase and will do so again, but to know this subject of library hours has already been brought to the board by someone else and they were dismissive towards her is very, very discouraging to me. I understand the library board meetings are during the mornings, once again eliminating anyone who works from attending them. Now, I have found out the next board meeting, after today, isn’t until August. I was also told this change in hours is a “trial” period August through December. Don’t they realize that changing hours like that and then trying to reopen on Saturdays will NOT help the attendance? People are so easily conditioned they will just go, “Oh, well, we will just go do something else.” Then the day will come and the library will only be open two days a week due to the “attendance” then one, then perhaps none.
When this tax levy comes up again in April, let’s all get out and vote “YES” to save our libraries.
Thank you,
Jan Anthony, Cassville
