To the editor:
Fact: In three years two full-time positions have been cut from the Caribou Public Library.
Fact: The library is busier than ever.
Fact: The budget for the Caribou Public Library is $219,336.
Fact: This is only 2.445 percent of the entire city budget.
Fact: The City Council has denied the request to reinstate a second full-time position citing if the library is understaffed just close the library.
Opinion: This is unsatisfactory. The Caribou Public Library has changed radically in the last year and a half. I appreciate: a clean building; more programming for all ages; more technology such as tablets and laptops, book and audio downloads; more STEM (STEAM if one wants to include art) learning; more literacy; more places for groups to meet such as the genealogy society, the knitting group, and the writers forum; grants have been written and awarded ($33,900); volunteers are freeing up the professional staff so they do not need to perform all aspects of the library; job training oversight and test proctoring; passport application services; and a newly established Caribou Public Library Foundation (501c3).
A petition is being circulated for those who want to support the library and show the Council the library is an important aspect of life in this city: that we the citizens of city of Caribou recognize the changes that have been made in the last year and a half and approve of them.
If supporters want to show their support even more, please attend the City Council meeting on Monday, Dec. 14, 2015 at 6 p.m. in the council chambers and speak during the public input section on the agenda or just show up. There is strength in numbers.
If you care about our library, or acknowledge that others in our community use this important cultural and information center, I encourage you to let your voice be heard. The Caribou Public Library has become a hub of our city. It is a busy place for all ages. Speak up, don’t let our library close when there is not enough staff to keep it open.
