LIBRARY NETWORK: Property taxes, small price to pay

A healthy library contributes to a healthy community. If funding is cut or isn’t adequate to support existing programs, we may see cuts to programs and staffing to the detriment of library patrons and residents.

Tax increases may be necessary to fund our current library system to continue the excellent service and programs the library network supports.

For example, some of the adult programs offered at the Post Falls library for the month of July include: Library Lessons, to learn how the system works and how to search for material; two book clubs; a game night; how to get a grant; Fit & Fall Proof, a free exercise program offered twice a week, and Vaping Education for parents and kids to learn about the effects of vaping.

Also, this spring, the American Library Association awarded a prize to Denise Neujahr, of the Post Falls library, for the excellent youth program she developed and runs.

Librarians are necessary to the library system. “Google can bring you back 100,000 answers. A librarian can bring you back the right one,” Neil Gaiman. Libraries and librarians contribute to community literacy, education, social welfare and encourage a love of reading and lifelong learning.

A 3% tax increase is a small price to pay for all the benefits a healthy library system contributes to our community. Failing to increase funds for the library system is shortsighted and unrealistic in today’s economy and is essentially a cut in revenue.

To keep our system vibrant and improving, support new money for libraries.

JAN OLSTAD

Post Falls