Let The Book Borrower Beware

Spokane’s public library system is open again, much to the comfort of patrons such as Sam Van Wyck.

He is one of the readers who commented about last week’s library shutdown, which was imposed as a budget-balancing strategy.

“You ask, ‘Is state of-the-art technology worth locked library doors?’

“If I were sure that the locked doors were solely the result of the move to computerized operation, I would attempt an answer. However, the new catalog and research capabilities have made using the library both easier and far more pleasant than before. So I say that if this is indeed the cause of the shutdown, then let us find the funds to have both. After all, libraries will get us through times of no money far better than money will get us through times of no libraries.”

But T.J. Lee is not so satisfied.

“I’ve been very upset with the library because of the large amount of time it’s taken to get the new libraries built.

“City voters approved that bond in 1990 and they still don’t have the Shadle one open and the Indian Trail one, I’m not sure they’ve even broken ground for yet. What angers me even more than them not using that money in a timely fashion is the fact they have not had the foresight to realize these beautiful new libraries are going to generate the need for more staff time and more staff. They’re seeing record use in the new libraries and they should have expected and planned for this.

“The Library Board needs to step back and say, ‘Wait a minute. If we can’t keep the libraries open now, how in the hell can we build a new branch at Indian Trail and keep it open at all?’

“Next month we’ll probably be looking at them telling the employees they have to take a whole month off instead of a couple of weeks. They should stop building the Indian Trail Library before they start and rebate the construction money to the taxpayers who’ve been waiting six long years for it.

“Then maybe they could take a long-term approach to properly staffing their libraries.”

And from Jake Laete, who lives outside the city limits: “The libraries are reaping what they sowed by excluding county residents from the library. They immediately lost 54 percent of their clientele and now they’re overstaffed and they need to make these kind of cuts. So, in a way they kind of got what they deserved.”

, DataTimes MEMO: “Bagpipes” appears Tuesdays and Thursdays. To respond, call Cityline at 458-8800, category 9881, from a Touch-Tone phone; or send a fax to 459-5098 or e-mail to dougf@spokesman.com. You also can leave Doug Floyd a message at 459-5577, extension 5466.