In One Virginia County, Only 1 of 9 County Supervisors Have Library Cards

Amazing but probably not surprising and that’s sad. I would love to learn that what’s going on here is an isolated incident but my guess is that it’s all to common.
From the DelmarvaNow.com:

Before he made the motion to deny a request for money to build a new library, Accomack County Supervisor Robert Crockett said, “Everybody on this board supports the library.”
But almost no one on the Board of Supervisors has a library card— in fact, of nine county supervisors, only one, Chairman Donald L. Hart Jr., has a library card, according to information the Eastern Shore Public Library provided in response to a request made under the Freedom of Information Act.
The board voted 6-3 to turn down a request for $6 million to help build a new main library on donated land in Onley, with several in the majority saying it would necessitate a tax increase.
Many of their constituents do have library cards, and use them.
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About 16,500 Accomack and Northampton county residents, about one third of each county’s total population, have a library card.

Quick Comment

So much for first hand knowledge and participation in a organization used by many people in a community you represent. You have to wonder if these supervisors have any idea of what the library provides users with both inside and outside of the library building. Sure, they’re told (are they listening?) or they might scan a report but this is not the same thing is actually using the library both in person and online. What does their support (they’ve said they support the library) actually mean? Where does it come from? How informed is it?
Of course, having a library card and using the card are two different things. Nevertheless, an elected official not taking two minutes to get a card, at the least as a sign of support, is very sad.
Read the Complete Article, Learn What the Supervisors Have To Say
Here’s one what of the supervisors told DelmarvaNow:

“I do all my research online … I have several computers.”

Of course, without a library card this board member can’t take advantage of 24x7x365 online services like the Find It Virginia database resources.

Filed under: Libraries, News, Patrons and Users, Public Libraries