SAVE OUR LIBRARIES

It is not a stretch to believe that public libraries are our second greatest weapon against inequality, following public schools.  In a society where our millionaire population recently soared past 16 million; where the average American family earns less than $44,000 per year; and where the homeless-mentally ill population left to fend for itself keeps increasing, public libraries often give the less fortunate among us, their only portal to the internet, current events, literature and knowledge.  Libraries are also an invaluable meeting place for residents of different backgrounds and points of view, to come together and interact. Moreover, public libraries provide one of the few cracks in the growing wall of social isolation going up between rich and poor.

          Ironically, many of the great public libraries were started by the “robber barons” from the gilded age.  Carnegie libraries blanket Allegheny County and are found throughout the Country.  A poor child from Homewood, August Wilson, spent all of his youth in a Carnegie library in Oakland, reading, absorbing and thinking, before becoming the greatest playwright of our generation.  There are many other examples of public libraries lifting up the underprivileged and inspiring genius.

          In Washington County, each year brings another desperate plea to save our local libraries.  The crisis is always the classic “rob Peter to pay Paul” debate as underfunded school districts must decide whether to cut Latin from the curriculum or pay their modest stipend to the local library.  When both Peter and Paul are strapped for cash because of State and Federal cutbacks, such a funding stream makes little sense.  This is particularly true when the County is swimming in oil and gas revenue.

          It is time for County government, business entities and financially secure private citizens to step up and end this yearly embarrassment.  If we are serious about reversing inequality in our little corner of the world, local government, the private sector and the public must take on this modest burden.  There is no greater “bang for the buck” when it comes to preserving our sense of community and seeking social and economic equality for all our residents.  It might even save a classics course or two in our public schools.