Support our libraries, and our community, with Prop. 81
Eureka Times Standard, Yes on Prop. 81
My Word by Mona Daly
Eureka Times Standard
Amid all the talk this spring about infrastructure improvements for our communities, one critical need has gone almost unnoticed. HumboldtCounty's libraries have not been able to keep up with increasing demand. Skyrocketing library use is causing our already underfunded library system to deteriorate rapidly.
Voters will have the chance to address that problem on June 6. Prop. 81 is a bond issue that will help communities like ours build new public libraries and renovate old ones that need repairs, seismic safety retrofits or technological upgrades.
Many of our friends and neighbors suffer silently from functional illiteracy. Approximately 3.4 million adult Californians are at “below basic” literacy levels. They cannot read medicine labels, election ballots or a jury pool summons. They cannot read to their children. Illiteracy often passes from one generation to the next, not limited by age, race, gender or geography. Libraries make the tools necessary to reverse these alarming facts accessible to everyone.
State bonds will provide 65 percent of the money for building and restoration, and local governments 35 percent. This frees up limited local funds for library programs and services like children's reading programs and homework centers, assistance for seniors and the disabled, job and career centers. New technology will be available to more people, and school-library partnerships will be enhanced.
Proposition 81 reserves $25 million for “joint use” projects, those that include cooperative agreements between local libraries and school districts in their service areas. Examples of joint use projects include providing local schools with support facilities to access the Internet and computer programs on literacy or building a reading and homework center in the local community library for student use after school.
The League of Women Voters of Humboldt County supports making improved library facilities in the Humboldt County Library District a priority. Specific improvements supported by the League include:
* Increased accessibility and convenience to the public.
* Increased support for efforts to apply for available state and federal funds.
* Increased financing for the present and future needs of the library system.
On Election Day don't forget to actively participate, exercise your rights as a citizen and make democracy work. Join the League of Women Voters of Humboldt County in saying yes on Proposition 81.
Mona Daly is president of the League of Women Voters of Humboldt County. She lives in Loleta.
The opinions expressed in My Word pieces do not necessarily reflect the editorial viewpoint of the Times-Standard.