In addition to our school, I am amazed to see how many moms and dads come in with their kids in tow, how many people use the computers because they don't have one at home and how many older people leave carrying books from the library home to read.
I am on the Advisory Committee at the Forest Park Library. Over the last number of years with the support of former Mayor Charles V. Ryan, Emily Bader, director of the Springfield City Library, and Patrick Sullivan, director of parks, buildings and recreation, the library now has a new roof, new parapets and we look forward to finally making the library accessible to those people who have a difficult time climbing stairs. This is our library. It makes us happy. Seeing the building restored has made Forest Park proud. But it's the middle school kids across the street from the library who give me the greatest pleasure. They are not on the street hanging out; they are in a special part of the library recently furnished just for them. We are fortunate at Forest Park to have branch manager Reggie Wilson, who treats these kids with dignity, gives them rules to follow and just plain likes them.
All departments are getting their budgets cut, but this time the libraries
suffered a low blow. Give us a fair-percentage cut. I promise you will receive
an optimistic return on your investment. We want our budget cuts to be fair
and square.
--GINNA ONDRICEK
--Springfield