Save the Library

April 25, 2012 |
Library measure deserves our support
Posted by Kelvin Wade

Fiscally, Fairfield is like a lot of households: Getting bills in the mail, dodging bill collectors on the phone and cutting out anything remotely fun.

The city is in a financial crisis. Our foreclosure rate is virtually unparalleled in the country. Huge cuts have been enacted and potentially devastating cuts may be in our future. But all isn’t lost. We still can help preserve our library system by passing Measure L, the eighth-cent sales tax renewal this June.

Folks who want to get a head start on supporting the libraries can do so this weekend. Winterhawk Winery (4537 Abernathy Road in Fairfield) has joined with the Solano County Library Foundation to host a fundraiser for our libraries from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

There’s going to be live music by Cold Shot playing dance hits and a wide variety of songs to appeal to all ages. There’s barbecue so you can get your grub on. And of course, there’ll be wine tasting and sales. Winterhawk will donate 20 percent of proceeds to our libraries.

This is something you can do right now to help the city and county. And you can vote June 5 for Measure L to extend the eighth-cent sales tax to help keep our libraries funded and functioning. The tax would take no additional money from your pocket. It maintains the status quo.

Some people feel that since they don’t personally use the library, why should they help fund it? That’s shortsighted. The library system benefits all of us, even if we don’t use it personally. Kids go there to do their homework. Students go there to study. Kids studying and staying in school benefits the community.

The Adult Literacy Program uses the library to teach people English. A lot of people complain about immigrants moving here and not learning the language. Well, here’s an example of a program that’s helping them do that. Helping people improve their skills makes them more valuable in the workplace. It benefits you.

There’s job search help at the library. Adding to our tax base helps you. The more people working, the better off we all are.

The library offers meeting rooms for a variety of organizations and causes. That provides a valuable service to the city and county.

Reading programs for children help get them used to reading and hopefully they will love reading. I don’t have to show you STAR test results or other test results to convince you that getting kids motivated to read and learn at an early age is a good thing for all of us.

Of course there are books, magazines, DVDs, CDs and other media for people to use free of charge. Free entertainment during these tough times is an incredible deal. Where else could you find comparable free entertainment?

I don’t know the fate of the arts and community events in Fairfield, but it looks grim.

At least with Measure L, we have the power to draw a line in the sand protecting our library system. It’s going to take a two-thirds vote so you have to tell your friends. We need everybody.

Melvil Dewey, the inventor of the Dewey Decimal System said, “A library’s function is to give the public in the quickest and cheapest way information, inspiration, and recreation. If a better way than the book can be found, we should use it.” We can do this. Peace.

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ADDITIONAL NOTES: There aren't many good taxes out there. This is one of them. With so much gloom in the local budget, this isn't a difficult call.

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