|
judge and jury
|
Well no what, anybody ever heard of Barnes and Noble??? go buy a book. they are pretty cheap these days
|
|
judge and jury
|
sorry...KNOW
|
|
Football junkie
|
Here's an idea use the "volunteer funds" for these Thursday night events to put into the budget of more important things.
As for your comment Judge and jury not everyone wants to purchase a book, and the library isn't just used for books.
|
|
Joe
|
The library is just filled with homeless people anyway. Besides, you can read almost any book online nowadays. I haven't touched a library book in almost 15 years, the always smell like pee and are really dirty. Who goes to the library anyway?
|
|
Sydney
|
It is just very sad. The library is a place where children come to learn and play. The elderly community uses the library as a place to meet friends and use a computer if they don't have one at home. It is also where high school and college students gather to study and better themselves. It is truly a community gathering place and it shouldn't be closed!
|
|
Mary
|
I feel the same Sydney. This will be such a loss for the children of our community especially.
As for Joe- You are an idiot because you DON'T read books.
|
|
Eugene
AOL
|
Mary wrote: I feel the same Sydney. This will be such a loss for the children of our community especially.
As for Joe- You are an idiot because you DON'T read books. No need to use personal attacks Mary.. Let us not panic. The library is not going to close. They may cut back on their hours, but they will not close. Personally I think they should close on Sunday and Monday's. Their hours should be Tues - Sat Noon - 6pm Most of the kids and adults get their information online. I would love to hear what happened to the $100,000.00 that they received from the painting they sold. Not too much forsight on their part if they spent it on shelves. They should have seen the writting on the wall months ago. I would also suggest they put up a books for sale area year round. Find some ways to raise money on their own. If they can't figure out a way to make this work with what we have, find someone who can and will.
|
|
Andre
|
For Wong to even consider closing the library is a big mistake. Not a good political move so early in her career.
|
|
|
|
Ryan
|
Andre,
I think the paper is the only one stating it "may" close so people will read their story. Wong is not quoted for saying it might close.
Eugene has a good point. Why not sell some books that haven't been checked out in decades, and reserve space for other things they could do with the library like rent it out. If they're not doing it already they can even start paid subscriptions to internet services. Local business advertising in the library is also a revenue generator.
|
|
Andre
|
Ryan...you are correct. Let's all hope Mayor Wong would not allow this to happen.
|
|
DietCoke
|
Back in the early 90s, some of us waited in the library after school (FHS) for the Mart Bus to pick us up. Even then, the place had homeless drunks holing up in corners.
I remember one particular man who would cough into his hand and then rub it under the table at which he sat.
I can't even imagine what kind of people hang out there now, almost 20 years later.
Yes - many people aren't able to afford books so they use the public library. But with the internet, bookstores (used and new) and libraries in elementary, secondary schools and colleges - the public library is truly becoming obsolete.
Perhaps it should be replaced with a shelter...since that's practically what it was used for anyway.
|
|
a former resident
|
I am glad I don't live in this city anymore. I went to the libary all the time. If Wong closes it down what a big mistake. What about people who can't afford computers? It looks like she is headed in the wrong direction. Mayor Whitney screwed up Mylott screwed up and now Wong. She needs to figure out what is happening in the city. Instead she is making plans to walk in parades on Thursdays. Not one of the brightest ideas. What is going to be here next move? Fitchburg use to great now it is a ^#$% hole and it starts with the leaders WONG.
|
|
taxpayer
|
According to the article, the people saying the library may close completely are the Library Director and one of the members of the Board of Trustee's. However, if they end up having to cut back to a 7 person staff, why would they not be able to open at all? If they are going to keep the library closed then why do we need any staff at all? This is just more of the same scare tactics they tried to use last year when they faced budget cuts. Is it a good thing to have a library? Absolutely, but to call it the heart and soul of the community is a little much.
|
|
Tiffany
|
Perhaps people can offer thier time as a part of community service? Perhaps high school kids can get credit for community service?
|
|
Daisy
|
I agree with many of the comments made in finding alternative income like renting space, book sales, etc. Creativity is what is needed in finding help for the library. Im sure kids would love to volunteer to work at the library part time as community service. All of you that say libraries are obsolete and useless are way off the mark. It has many other services besides books which was also stated above. I hope they find a way to at least keep it open on weekdays.
|
|
J_in _Ward _1
|
It's unfortunate that the regional library system requires a certain expenditure instead of a certain level of service.
If volunteers came forward to provide staffing so the full hours could be kept in place, the library would still be disenrolled because funding is down even though services would be the same. Maybe given these recessionary times the regional system needs to offer some flexibility.
|
|
Magic
|
Kids don't use the library, it's all about the internet. I will never understand why the City of Leominster spent all that money on a library, was a waist. New schools and police department, but they build a library, who knows! Read a book!
|
|
Boulder City
|
Ryan wrote: Andre,
I think the paper is the only one stating it "may" close so people will read their story. Wong is not quoted for saying it might close.
Eugene has a good point. Why not sell some books that haven't been checked out in decades, and reserve space for other things they could do with the library like rent it out. If they're not doing it already they can even start paid subscriptions to internet services. Local business advertising in the library is also a revenue generator. Ryan, sounds like you haven't been to the FPL lately, or for that matter, the last 4 years, because they HAVE BEEN SELLING SUCH BOOKS. Furthermore the idea of renting the library out is another joke too. FPL was a gift to the City of Fitchburg. Considering the city has given most of the rights of the Wallace Civic Center to Fitchburg State College, it would behoove Mayor Wong to do likewise with this library. If anything, it would be a good learning tool for those studying Library Arts and Sciences (or what ever the course of study is for Libraries), and basically provide this a service to the city, at least for the time being until the city is back on its feet. Also, it was Ann Wirtanen, who considered the idea of closing the Library, not Mayor Wong. If the Mayor is going to cut, then make the cuts across the board (including Police and Fire Departments), and leave out the schools. Seems like Fitchburg is a great city to raise dumb, stupid kids. After all, they cut the schools, and the library, and give it all to the cops to bust the kids. I guess it takes a village to raise village idiots...and Fitchburg is a great example!
|
|
Boulder City
|
Magic wrote: Kids don't use the library, it's all about the internet. I will never understand why the City of Leominster spent all that money on a library, was a waist. New schools and police department, but they build a library, who knows! Read a book! Because Magic, they want kids to be able to use the english language correctly. If you don't believe me..than read this quote in your post: "I will never understand why the City of Leominster spent all that money on a library, was a waist." Obviously you didn't learn much in School, nor did you ever learn how to spell or use words!
|
|
Boulder City
|
taxpayer wrote: According to the article, the people saying the library may close completely are the Library Director and one of the members of the Board of Trustee's. However, if they end up having to cut back to a 7 person staff, why would they not be able to open at all? If they are going to keep the library closed then why do we need any staff at all? This is just more of the same scare tactics they tried to use last year when they faced budget cuts. Is it a good thing to have a library? Absolutely, but to call it the heart and soul of the community is a little much. Scare tactics? Seems funny Taxpayer, this has been talked about CONSTANTLY with Mayor Mylott. Yet, his raiding the other departmental budgets to give to the Police and Fire Departments, it shouldn't be a surprise that there would be such a problem. Also, the anti-tax climate in Fitchburg, being what it is, has failed to realize that regardless of all the cutting, that deficit will STILL BE THERE, and that with the cost of inflation, keeping the same tax rate, will only create a problem. Furthermore, with Mylott's stupid idea of hiring cops as a form of economic development, there is really no corporate sponsor to come in and help the library, which is a LARGE resource to ANY CITY. Or shall we return to the good old days, to create a illiterate peasant society? That way Fitchburg can double or triple the police force, and put the poor stupid people into jails, so that people like you can throw your tax money away...good after the bad?
|
Judge it!
67°F
Most Popular
