Library funding is needed for the benefit of all

I was appalled by the article in the March 11 issue of the Frontiersman that said the Palmer and Wasilla libraries may have reduced hours and that nonresidents of the cities might have to pay $35 for a library card. This would be detrimental to the quality of life that encourages people to live in this end of the Valley.

Even though those of us who live outside city limits pay Mat-Su Borough taxes to support other borough-wide programs, and more than 73 percent of the patrons of the two city libraries come from outside their city limits, the borough plans to discontinue its share of funding for Wasilla and Palmer libraries. At the same time, the two libraries are required to pay about $20,000 to be part of the borough-wide system. In addition, the Palmer Library acts as the central station for all the totes containing inter-library loan materials. This involves staff time by the Palmer librarians that is not reimbursed by the borough.

To use a borough library, a resident of the Butte would have to drive 26 miles to Sutton, a resident of Gateway would have to drive 21 miles to that library. Likewise, a resident of the Knik-Goose Bay area would have to drive 21 miles to Big Lake. With increasing gas prices, that would be a hardship for many families, especially senior citizens living on a fixed income.

Homeschool and Christian school students are dependent entirely on our city libraries for research and literary materials. With the proposed reduction in support staff in the public schools, the two cities libraries will be increasingly important in supporting literacy and assignment completion.

Ongoing literacy programs are part of our libraries’ mission. The Baby Lap Sit program provides guidance for new mothers/caregivers in introducing their children from 4 months to 22 months to the world of books. Summer reading provides encouragement for elementary students to continue to read outside of school. More than 870 students took part in this program last summer, many from outside city limits. Cooking for Teens demonstrates a practical use for reading. After hours middle school programs were a success with waiting lists for those who wanted to participate. For adults, there is the Mystery Book Club and the Foreign Film Society. All ages enjoy the Sunday programs featuring authors, music and art with more than 144 attending the most recent program.

More than 40 different groups use the libraries’ meeting facilities, providing a community service.

In Palmer, the library also provides a safe place for students to go after school to do homework while waiting for parents.

For locals as well as tourists, the Palmer Library has 20 computers, along with six laptops, that are available to do research, check email, apply for jobs, do taxes or apply for the PFD. Assistance is available in using these tools. Tourists visiting the library to access this service are also likely to spend time and patronize our local merchants.

What better use of borough funds than to see that all those programs are not only available to Palmer residents, but also to those living in the close proximity. Borough taxpayers expect to be afforded the same quality of services as the core city and not to be excluded with a $35 payment that individuals might not be able to afford.

We expect those who are responsible for approving any library funding will have the borough residents’ best interests at heart and continue to fund our city as well as borough libraries. Instead of cutting funding to the city libraries of Palmer and Wasilla, why not use some of money from the Economic Development budget ($214,026) to fund city libraries?

Libraries provide a quality of life that would allow people to move here and spur economic development. In addition, there is $42,095 in the budget for vehicle removal, the cost of which should be paid by the owners or proceeds from the sale of those vehicles. Ideally, since 73 percent of library patrons come from outside the Palmer/Wasilla city limits, that percentage of the funding for those libraries should be the responsibility of the Mat-Su Borough.

We strongly urge members of our borough assembly to keep funding for all of our libraries and recognize their importance as a valued community resource.

We feel that instead of the borough cutting funding to the city libraries of Palmer and Wasilla, that the borough should re-institute block grant funding, thereby recognizing and funding the city libraries that support all borough residents.

Christine F. Walker is a member of the Friends of the Palmer Public Library.