Fulfill Our Libraries’ Fine Potential Letter Of The Week From Oct. 25

In 1990, Spokane citizens were asked to approve a $28.8 million bond issue to replace the Spokane Public Library system with new facilities and an updated automation system. The voters said yes, and the library board and administrators delivered on the promises. Spokane has a new downtown library (its reading room acknowledged as one of the 10 best in the country), five new neighborhood branches, a state-of-the-art automation system and the expenditure of an additional $3 million on library materials.

Spokane has the first-class library voters agreed to build and support, but access to it will be limited unless funds cuts from the library budget are restored.

Citizens are currently paying for the project; the bonds have not yet been retired. However, with the current schedule of open hours, library users will not be able to enjoy the full benefits of their investment.

Libraries are a public good, essential to a democratic society.

Jane Jacobs, author of “The Death and Life of Great American Cities,” describes libraries as people places that bring people downtown, that provide “eyes on the street” and bring activity and movement.

The downtown library should be open on Saturday and all library facilities should have evening hours. Libraries are an important part of downtown and neighborhood life.

We voted for the new system. We are paying for it. The City Council can make it possible for us to make maximum use of it. Toni Savalli Spokane