On June 7, I dropped off my books and late DVDs at the Auburn library. Then the surprise came. They have closed the original Auburn library in order to greatly enlarge it, improve it and update it with more shelf space and computer terminals. This is when I became depressed. Those children, college students and unemployed who will use this expanded library are going to find it benefits their education and job search needs. The people of Enumclaw will enjoy the benefits only by driving to Auburn.

I became even more depressed when I read (the June 8) letter to the editor in your paper. It seems some people wish to keep the worn-out furniture, outdated computers and software, as well as the shortage of shelf space and lack of books to fill them. This would make some sense if these items were a valued antique collection, favorite pet or even a distant relative.  But, who among us wishes to drive to work in a car that can no longer be trusted to get us there, live in a house that needs to be updated with plumbing, an indoor toilet, hot water and electric lights?  Who among us retains such nostalgia for a worn-out stove, oven, television, let alone refrigerator and freezer, that we keep it lying around the house when a new one should be added that works better and uses less electricity?

The final disturbing news that pushed me to write this letter to the editor came in June 8’s Seattle Times in an article on page B-1. The King County Library System has won the Gale/Library Journal award for 2011 and $10,000.  I was surprised to find out there are 46 branches serving 1.3 million people and it circulates more items (22.4 million in 2010) than any other library system in the world. It won this prestigious award, not just for size, but for having adopted technological innovations such as automated check in and check out, e-books, laptops and computer access to the public earlier than other libraries. It was also noted for providing “Look to Your Library” workshops for job searching, resume writing and networking.

Sorry, but for the life of me, I cannot understand why anyone would want to stand in the way of our returning servicemen and women who need to find jobs (they have a 24 percent unemployment rate), in the way of our Enumclaw students both in public school and college who need to do research and write resumés when they graduate, prevent those without computers at home high speed internet access with the latest up to date software, or keep the rest of us hostage by having to drive and waste time and expensive gasoline in order to use this award-winning library system.

G. S. Johnson

Enumclaw