Newspaper Editorial: “Dallas City Hall Must Stop Neglect of Libraries”

From The Dallas Morning News:

Dallas City Hall’s neglect of the public libraries is a civic embarrassment.
It’s a wonder that city leaders profess world-class ambitions even as funding for the library system is lower than a decade ago. Hours remain curtailed from the 2008 economic nose dive, and laid-off employees have not been restored.
A healthy library system is not a mere amenity. It’s a foundational piece of a city’s educational picture and a community nerve center.
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In the Internet age, the public library is not just a musty book warehouse. It’s a place where a family on a budget can check out DVDs, audiobooks and CDs. Its computer terminals are a vital link for low-income students who need a place to do schoolwork and for job seekers looking to bootstrap themselves up. They are essential places for people to better themselves.
Dallas’ libraries serve as a home base for outside groups to hold ESL, GED and citizenship classes, childhood literacy programs and job-search training. Experts go there to give advice on preparing taxes and nurturing small businesses. Teens have someplace safe to meet.

Read the Full Text of the Editorial (via Dallas Morning News)

Filed under: Funding, Libraries, News, Public Libraries