On our city’s website, cityofenumclaw.net, you will find a library FAQ link that clearly defines the dilemma we now face in trying to maintain a viable sustainable community library. The Courier-Herald has been diligent in reporting the struggle faced by our mayor, city administration and council to maintain basic services as revenues continually decline.
Over a year ago, our council made the hard decision that the expense of operating our library significantly cut into money needed to provide for the health and safety of our citizens. A very difficult decision but a realistic one as it became clear that, by merging our library with King County Library System, we could not only maintain our library but also see it become a stronger resource and sustainable for many years to come. It would no longer be dependent upon stipends from the city that could vary year to year.
Our library is the center of our community. It is used by all ages from within city limits and from the surrounding countryside. Its importance to the development of our children is without question. For our students at all grade levels and their teachers, our library provides the essential center for research, homework, career and college planning and access to computers not always available to them at home.
So what is the dilemma? If we decline the opportunity to join our library with KCLS and no other way is found to pay for its continued operation, we residents of Enumclaw lose not only our own library but also access to all libraries in King County. The situation poses an even greater dilemma for our school district. Imagine a situation where students and teachers, who live in Enumclaw, have no access to any library and students and teachers, who live in the county outside of Enumclaw, have continued access to KCLS.
Read the library Frequently Asked Questions on our city’s website. It’s all there.
It’s up to us to decide. Do we vote yes for KCLS or do we do we gamble on the uncertain future of our library and our community?
Dick Hughes
Enumclaw
