When I picked up last week's "Kennett Paper" and saw the front-page headline "Library moving out of town," I felt like I was in one of those time-travel shows like "Life on Mars."
All of a sudden it was the summer of 2000 again, and the library board had just voted to build a new Bayard Taylor Library "out of town" at the Ways Lane site it had bought. That decision stirred up a vitriolic controversy that ultimately scuttled the board's plans. Perhaps you recall it: I was deeply involved in the debate, and the unpleasant memories still make me a little queasy.
But in last week's article, library board members talked optimistically about how the world has changed since the firestorm of 2000: the borough of Kennett Square is thriving, the economy has improved, libraries have largely gone digital, some former opponents to the move have "come round," the in-town parking situation has worsened, and so forth.
All those are perfectly good arguments, and I wish the board members the best of luck. They are good, smart, community-minded people; now they just need to find three vital puzzle pieces: (1) benefactors with very deep pockets, (2) dynamic leadership with the sophistication, experience, connections, dedication, and time it will take to run such an ambitious capital campaign, and (2) the increased funding that it will take to run an expanded facility.
I was not yet living here in 2000 and I use the WC library anyway, but I do hope plans include a sidewalk all the way from the borough to the library and perhaps a nice bike lane, too.
ReplyDeleteThe new status of the "library" as a place with few books worries me most. Browsing the shelves (which Ms Mackie-Kallin says no one does anymore) can open untold worlds. Perhaps it should be re-named "community center".
Thanks for the comment, actually what I said to the reporter was something to the effect of "people don't come to the library JUST to get books off of the shelves, they come for so much more." Obviously the "just" and "so much more" were left out! Ebooks, which are simply books in another format are increasing in popularity at the library, but in this case the books come to the patron not the other way around! Bayard Taylor has the second highest usage of e-books in the County! And "so much more" in terms of great children's and teens' and family programming! Check it out at http://www.bayardtaylor.org/
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