Letter to the Editor
The following letter by library director Anne M. Frank was published in the Your say column of The Reporter on 2/10/2006 under the headline "Libraries are essential to community" . A shorter version was published in North Penn Life on 2/24/2006 under the headline "Why Libraries are important places for communities" in Anne's Off the Shelf column.
This letter is in response to Edwin W. Lewis’s Letter to the Editor in the Reporter on Friday, February 3, 2006.
Edwin states that he doesn’t believe that Montgomery Township needs a library because “there are at least four large chain bookstores in the township.” Saying that you don’t need a library because you have a book store is like saying that you don’t need a church because you have a bible. People go to church not just to read the bible, but for guidance. They go to services for personal growth and to come together as a community.
People come to the library for a little different kind of help. Lansdale Public Library answered 3,741 reference questions in 2004 for people ranging from students who needed to research homework assignments to adults that needed to find tax forms. The library provides access to 25 computers, because over 50% of households do not own a computer. The library also provides access to magazine and newspaper databases that cover thousands of publications and millions of articles. Library patron, Ann Kaler stopped by this week to say that she basically earned her doctorate degree here at the library through using our books and inter-library loan program. The library also provides job listings for the unemployed and test proctoring for adults enrolled in long distance learning programs.
Libraries act as community centers. The Lansdale Public Library has a community room in which local clubs like the Buxmont Computer Club, Mom’s club, and Camera Club meet free of charge. Teens from NPSD just started an anime club. In 2004, the library held 380 programs at which 9,828 people attended. One continuing program is the Travel to Series in which citizens, who were born in another country, volunteer to share information, artifacts and food with other community members. Besides the many children’s programs, the library provides book discussion groups, classes, and movies. Recently, eighty eight parents and children came out to watch a free viewing of March of the Penguins. That would have cost parents well over $500 at a theater, but at the library it was free. The library is a meeting place for tutors and students. Indian Valley Opportunity Center holds ESL classes at the library as well.
Unfortunately, books are expensive. The average cost of a new book is $25. Most parents check out 12 books for their children to read for two weeks. That would cost parents $300 per week, but at the library it’s free. Renting a DVD at a video store costs $4 for a week, it’s only $1.50 at the library. Many working people don’t have time to read print and rely on the library to provide audio books for their commute. The average cost of an unabridged audio book is $35. That racks up quickly for people who go through 3 or 4 audio books a month. The Lansdale Public Library circulated 108, 435 books and audiovisuals in 2004. Can you imagine what that cost would be to the public if they had to buy them at book stores?
Matt Kane of the Office of Commonwealth Libraries provides us with some important statistics about PA libraries. Pennsylvanians check out on average more than five books per year. State government collects $23.11 in taxes per person each year for libraries. It is much cheaper for people to use their local library than to purchase 5 books. There are 681 libraries in PA, more than the number of McDonald’s restaurants. An average of 756,740 Pennsylvanians visit a library each week. Lansdale Public Library had 338,520 visits in 2004.
Bookstores are wonderful places where people who can afford to purchase all the new books they need can lounge and read. Libraries are community centers where people can go to learn how to use a computer, to ask for help with finding information, and to teach their child the importance of reading. By the way, you can also purchase used books at the Lansdale Public Library (50 cents per paperback/one dollar per hardback book), and can lounge from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday through Friday and from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Saturday! Lansdale Public Library will not be reducing hours in 2006, even though there was a budget cut, thanks to donations from our supportive community.
This letter is in response to Edwin W. Lewis’s Letter to the Editor in the Reporter on Friday, February 3, 2006.
Edwin states that he doesn’t believe that Montgomery Township needs a library because “there are at least four large chain bookstores in the township.” Saying that you don’t need a library because you have a book store is like saying that you don’t need a church because you have a bible. People go to church not just to read the bible, but for guidance. They go to services for personal growth and to come together as a community.
People come to the library for a little different kind of help. Lansdale Public Library answered 3,741 reference questions in 2004 for people ranging from students who needed to research homework assignments to adults that needed to find tax forms. The library provides access to 25 computers, because over 50% of households do not own a computer. The library also provides access to magazine and newspaper databases that cover thousands of publications and millions of articles. Library patron, Ann Kaler stopped by this week to say that she basically earned her doctorate degree here at the library through using our books and inter-library loan program. The library also provides job listings for the unemployed and test proctoring for adults enrolled in long distance learning programs.
Libraries act as community centers. The Lansdale Public Library has a community room in which local clubs like the Buxmont Computer Club, Mom’s club, and Camera Club meet free of charge. Teens from NPSD just started an anime club. In 2004, the library held 380 programs at which 9,828 people attended. One continuing program is the Travel to Series in which citizens, who were born in another country, volunteer to share information, artifacts and food with other community members. Besides the many children’s programs, the library provides book discussion groups, classes, and movies. Recently, eighty eight parents and children came out to watch a free viewing of March of the Penguins. That would have cost parents well over $500 at a theater, but at the library it was free. The library is a meeting place for tutors and students. Indian Valley Opportunity Center holds ESL classes at the library as well.
Unfortunately, books are expensive. The average cost of a new book is $25. Most parents check out 12 books for their children to read for two weeks. That would cost parents $300 per week, but at the library it’s free. Renting a DVD at a video store costs $4 for a week, it’s only $1.50 at the library. Many working people don’t have time to read print and rely on the library to provide audio books for their commute. The average cost of an unabridged audio book is $35. That racks up quickly for people who go through 3 or 4 audio books a month. The Lansdale Public Library circulated 108, 435 books and audiovisuals in 2004. Can you imagine what that cost would be to the public if they had to buy them at book stores?
Matt Kane of the Office of Commonwealth Libraries provides us with some important statistics about PA libraries. Pennsylvanians check out on average more than five books per year. State government collects $23.11 in taxes per person each year for libraries. It is much cheaper for people to use their local library than to purchase 5 books. There are 681 libraries in PA, more than the number of McDonald’s restaurants. An average of 756,740 Pennsylvanians visit a library each week. Lansdale Public Library had 338,520 visits in 2004.
Bookstores are wonderful places where people who can afford to purchase all the new books they need can lounge and read. Libraries are community centers where people can go to learn how to use a computer, to ask for help with finding information, and to teach their child the importance of reading. By the way, you can also purchase used books at the Lansdale Public Library (50 cents per paperback/one dollar per hardback book), and can lounge from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday through Friday and from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Saturday! Lansdale Public Library will not be reducing hours in 2006, even though there was a budget cut, thanks to donations from our supportive community.
posted by Lansdale Public Library at 10:55 AM
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