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Wright Library . . . the thought of Wright Library should conjure up a variety of images in your mind. Perhaps you learned to like or even read books through the Johnny Appleseed program. Maybe you visit Wright Library occasionally to read magazines or newspapers. It may be the place you first learned to do research, or wrote your first term paper. You may use it to access the Internet or order a book from anoth
er library. Possibly, it is where your children cemented their love of books and reading through the Children’s Story Hour.
For some of you, Wright Library may be a place that you visit frequently; for others, you may visit less often. Some of you may know of it as a historic landmark — named after the Wright family, and it sits on Katharine Wright Park. Orville Wright was a member of the Board of Trustees from October of 1934 until December of 1946.
Regardless of your image, Wright Library has been and should continue to be an integral part of our community. It is a part of the fabric that holds our community together, and it helps make Oakwood a special place, especially as compared to many other suburbs across the United States.
Unfortunately, Wright Library is threatened today - it is threatened by state budget cuts that have been ongoing since 2001, and its financial situation is not likely to improve in the future. Recent budget cuts have caused a 22 percent reduction in the hours the library is open to the public. Reduced revenues have resulted in reduced staff, frozen staff salaries (and reduced health insurance), reduced children’s programming, and, more importantly, required the Board to substantially spend cash reserves.
If Wright Library does not get additional local support, there are more changes on the horizon. The cutbacks could include further reductions in children’s programs and reductions in the spending on books and media to levels below the recommendation of the Ohio Library Council. Canceling magazine subscriptions, reducing inter-library loans and failing to replace worn-out equipment, such as public computers are other possible decreases in service.
Wright Library is a jewel in our community. We urge you to vote in favor of the levy on November 8, 2005 in order to make sure that the Library continues to maintain a high level of service as a vital part of the community.
Jeff and Ellen Ireland
Oakwood
The proposed library levy, to be voted on by the Oakwood community on Nov. 8, 2005, is generating some interesting letters and views. Certainly I agree that the library is a fine institution and an asset to Oakwood as it is.
However, the comments by the library director and others who present themselves as speaking for the library (the committee supporting the levy, those who have agreed to have signs in their yards, some board members, and some letter writers) are of serious concern.
Why? Because no one knows what the Wright Memorial Library Board of Trustees is going to approve – and only that group may approve any action or plan, and such action must take place in a public meeting that has been called and held in accordance with specific guidelines and with specific records as required by the State of Ohio for public libraries, according to materials from the Ohio Library Council.
There has been no action by the Library Board regarding the levy except to ask the Board of Education to put the levy request on the ballot. That levy request seeks only current expenses of the library.
The only record of the levy request that is available to the public is in the minutes of the Oakwood Board of Education. And there is no public record of any further action of the Library Board.
Why? Because there has been no approved board minutes for any board meeting since June, none for two meetings in July, none for August. And the board chose not to meet in September.
I have been at every board meeting since May. I can guarantee from my notes that no official action regarding the uses of the requested tax increase has transpired.
The amount requested by the proposed levy is excessive.
Jo Shank
Oakwood
Also see!
You reported, in the ‘Round Town column of your Oct. 4 issue, an astonishing biological event: The birth of cubs to the Polo Club’s resident coyote. Cubs? Bear? Lion? I thought the coyote was of the canine persuasion; she must have been most surprised not to have produced pups.
George Houk
Oakwood
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