To the Editor and the People of Garland County,
I was shocked and angered when I learned there were those who want to limit support for our wonderous Garland County Library. I’m assuming they come from a place of ignorance and don’t understand how many people, from every imaginable background, our library serves.
Nearly 1000 people a day visit our library, kids, teens, adults and seniors.
Yes, they have books, music and movies. Did you know, if you can’t visit the library, they have home delivery (very helpful for those who don’t drive and older patrons) as well as curbside pickup, pick up lockers or they will mail you material to your home. Now that’s great service!
You can check out books, yes, but did you know families and individuals can check out fishing poles, telescopes, microscopes, fun cake pans, Mid America Science Museum passes, board and yard games, heirloom seeds, even a garden plot so you can grow your own veggies, all free of charge!
When senior citizens need help with taxes or understanding phone and computer tech, the Garland County Library is there to serve. If teens need help with driving tests, research projects, learning a new language or simply need a computer for homework, the library is there to help. Families and home school groups connect at the library to work on art and music projects and improve reading skills. The list of offerings goes on and on and on.
The Garland County Library offers groups and classes for everything imaginable including gardening, chess, Tia Chi, crafting, ukulele and guitar, writing, travel, movies, exercise, jazz and history. If anyone, young or old, wants something different, all they have to do is ask and the brilliant staff will try to accommodate.
Rich or poor, young or old, the Garland County Library is much like Shel Silverstien’s The Giving Tree, always serving, always offering more to every citizen of this county and we are blessed to have Adam Webb and his staff.
Our Library serves a 1000 people a day and that’s the service you want to cut? That’s the remarkable organization you want to limit? Have you ever been to our library? I would be happy to meet you and offer my unofficial tour.
I understand wanting to save tax payer dollars but you are picking on one of the shining stars of this county. We have an unmatched library we should all be proud of, why cut back or limit their services? I wish everything here was operated like the library. We would all be better for it.
I cannot think of anything else in this county that serves so many and makes our lives better. I hope you will reconsider this cruel and absurd attack. Please continue your vigilance, be a champion of responsible spending, but don’t limit or annihilate the thing we love and in turn lessen the quality of life for so many Garland County residents.
Folks, it’s time to stand up and protect what we love and value. We have to fight for the things that are important to us, to our families. If you love the Garland County Library like I do, make some noise and stop the bullies.
Sincerely and passionately,
Diana McDaniel Hampo
Bravo Diana! There is a group of people in this county who believe they know better than everyone else, and they are determined to inflict their world-view on the residents of this county. Notice that they are not attacking the budget of our county landfill or parks or any one of the other services the county offers. This is purely and pathetically political. Again, bravo to you and everyone else who refuses to be bullied by an ignorant minority.