THE FISKE FREE LIBRARY BUDGET CUTS

Several announcements about cutting the BUDGET of the FISKE FREE LIBRARY have appeared in various newspapers and media,including the Eagle Times and THE NEWS REVIEW,etc. Already the library has done away with WEDNESDAY OPENINGS and let magazine subscriptions run out without renewing to save a FULL TIME POSITION, while, of course, retaining the higher priced personnel.

Figures that attempt to show possible savings are there, of course, but the question remains, how long can the TOWN OF CLAREMONT afford to operate a public library?  Inf the coming trends in TECHNOLOGY are any indication, CLAREMONT LACKS BEHIND AND WILL NEVER CATCH UP.

Upper Valley Libraries, in more affluent towns, have much better facilities and newer ones, that demonstrate 'computer-savvy' and design, along with other amenities, such as coffee,etc. and guest passes,etc. with special codes rather than cumbersome cards.

At present, coffee and other beverages and,of course, snacks, baby bottles, and food,etc are PROHIBITED, EXCEPT FOR STAFF MEMBERS WHO EAT AT THEIR DESKS IN THE PUBLIC EYE AND CONSUME DRINKS AND THE LIKE AND ORDER DELIVERED PIZZAS. Patrons of the library are well aware of the privileges the staff enjoys and also the many instances when library staff is late for work, in opening the doors,etc.

Nevertheless, the staff does an extraordinary job in many other ways the public and the TAXPAYERS OF CLAREMONT DO NOT REALIZE. Their current attention to the patrons and their needs is important and to be lauded as it has now created a better atmosphere in  library that should be meeting the needs of READERS OF ALL KINDS AND AGES.

Right now, the diminishing number of books on the shelves indicates that soon books will not be on the coming budgets for many reasons. One is the various regulations and laws both local and state and perhaps federal that do not allow libraries to retain books seldom taken out and if not taken out within 'three years' are discarded and used to be burned and destroyed but now can be sold off to those who wish to buy them at very low prices.

Eliminating the purchase of new books entirely few wish to happen and they tend to be blind to the fact that this is going to eventually happen.  Book publishing companies are being consolidated under obvious monopolies when it comes to the major houses and distribution confined to certain stores and venues that may market them in various ways. Some end up in used book stores or dollar type stores and so many book stores find that patrons do not buy the high priced ones but wait for sales.

The library, however, gives access to the internet which in coming months and years will assume a most important role for people now not on the internet as nearly all things will have to be accessed via the internet, and especially when it comes to government forms and agencies,etc. Already this is true for most tax purposes. As the United States becomes a PAPERLESS SOCIETY, people will have to access documents, forms, information,etc. and download it to their own computers and print off any forms or 'hard copies' at their .own expense. This will mean buying and learning to use new,expensive, ever-changing equipment of all kinds to do so.

People do not use the library just for reading books, magazines, or applying for jobs and printing off applications but for copying things, researching things, especially Claremont History. and occasionally for certain meetings or programs which have now seemed to have sought larger or easier facilities. THe Children's library is important. Another thing about the library is this: SCHOOLS IN CLAREMONT AND IN OTHER TOWNS AND CITIES NOW HAVE THEIR OWN LIBRARIES AND SO STUDENTS, WHO FREQUENTLY HAVE LENGTHY STUDY HALLS,ETC. DO THEIR HOMEWORK THERE(IF THEY HAVE ANY TO DO).

This means that the public library competes with schools and local colleges who have their own readership via their own libraries. Many senior centers and homes for the elderly, retired, and the like have their own libraries so those people who might have used the library more often and perhaps every ttime is is open, no longer do so.

We can expect that with the language changes now coming into our HIGH TECH SOCIETY & CULTURE, people will not be reading or writing in the traditional ways but use acronymns, codes, and other devices to be 'literate' if at all.