I consider the library ‘The Crown Jewel’ of our community. Over the years it has provided a source of information, knowledge, entertainment and instruction to its patrons.

One of its most important missions is that it’s “all inclusive”. Any and all are welcome. If you need help with something to do with technology or any other avenue, they are ready to provide assistance and/or instruction. This is essential to many in our community who do not have easy access to knowledge of the digital world we are forced into at times.

I realize that balancing budgets has become a challenge of the years for families as well as for government entities. What I don’t understand is the seemingly consistent targeting from our elected leaders toward the library. Why are they being expected to function with a budget that is essentially the same as their 2001 one? While other discretionary spending - for example the recreation budget, tourism, Fish Massena and others seem to slide under the radar when they present their yearly budget wish-list. Rarely are their budgets trimmed or are they required to write their own grants, or are they told to do more with less. Their line items are important but it affects a significantly lower number of people and demographics than the library budget which encompasses all age groups and needs of the community as a whole.

Because of these restraints, the library has been forced to cut hours - open only one evening each week when working adults or students would be able to access resources that might not be available to them in the other allotted time schedule.

And I question why when we were fortunate to procure a qualified, talented children’s librarian would you choose to have her position part-time with no benefits? Her programs are helping instruct our youngest members how to use our resources that will be available to them for a lifetime, and they can be one of our positive influences moving forward.

The library provides numerous cultural, informative, educational, and entertainment opportunities that would not be accessible through another venue for the majority of our citizens as well as offering wellness activities for people of all ages.

I urge the public to become acquainted with all that our library has to offer. You will be glad you did.

Margaret Demo

Massena