LIBRARIES: Vote for renovations

On Tuesday, May 17, district voters have their say to bring eight Community Network libraries up to date by voting yes for the proposed levy. Consider these facts:

• In Post Falls alone 3,000 kids kept their reading skills sharp using the Summer Reading Program

• 118,000 plus used computers or Wi-Fi

• 200,000 people came through the door

• Over 2,000 new library cards were issued

• People connected to their community through adult, teen and children’s programs and attended presentations of authors like CJ Box and entertainers like Patrick McManus

To accommodate people and programs, changes need to be made. Shelving needs to be on castors so they can easily be moved to create space for large presentations. Teen areas need to be separated from the general use areas to provide for them and keep open areas quiet. Shelving needs to be lowered for accessibility for small children. Digital signage would draw attention to programs presentations.

I hope you can agree renovations are necessary. The elected Library Board proposed a levy of $4,979,940 to be used to update all eight libraries. The cost per $100,000 taxable value would be $37.21 and the levy would expire in three years. Pretty reasonable investment for improving heavily used community resources!

I have lived in Post Falls for 16 years, arriving when the “new” library opened. It has served us well but now needs updating. Join me and vote “yes” on the library levy on May 17!

DIANNE SCHUMANN

president, Friends of the Library