Our Observation

A recent political comment has sparked interest in the humble Maitland Public Library. And deservedly so.

As Lady Bird Johnson once said, "Perhaps no place in any community is so totally democratic as the town library. The only entrance requirement is interest." Augustine Birrell quipped "that libraries are not made; they grow."

Thus the conundrum facing the Maitland Public Library — how to grow or survive in a political climate of austerity measures and budget cuts. The answer will undoubtedly have to be the community. As Lady Bird suggested, an apolitical answer to a fiscally political problem.

Councilman Phil Bonus touched off a firestorm with his recent suggestion that funding for the library may have to be cut. Citizens rallied to the support of the library and declared that other cuts would have to be made before considering reduced funding for the library. But we feel the community will have to rally their checkbooks, as well.

Nationwide many libraries have turned to the community to augment their reduced budget through "friends" volunteer groups, fundraising boards and organized book sales.

Failure for Maitland to respond with more than just vocal outcries may find the Maitland Public Library facing the same fate as Jackson County, Ore., which closed its entire 15-branch system for six months in 2007. The folded Salinas, Ca., library system was saved only by an emergency 2005 bond offering.

Funding reductions to libraries nationwide are $162 million and growing, according to the American Library Association.

As our own libraries compete for funding with other public institutions such as police, fire and parks systems, we agree that the library and its many public services should remain a priority of this community.

While we 'check-out' a few books and video games, we may have to turn a few checks in ourselves. It may be the only way to keep the "public" in public library.