If the budget were to go down again, cuts would be inevitable, says library Director Margaret Cincotta. That would only hurt residents, particularly older adults and children, who make the greatest use of the library.
Libraries are important community learning institutions, and they generally give us a huge bang for our buck. So, we should support them.
Sadly, the North Merrick Library has seen hard times of late. Last December, the Library Board held a public referendum on a $3 million bond to repair and upgrade the library. That referendum should have passed. The library desperately needs a fix-up. The roof, held together with tar patches, leaks in places. The boiler is so old that it could blow at any time. And there are several other problems.
A beautiful, well-kept library makes a statement. It shows that people value learning and care about their community. On June 23, send a message to the naysayers and vote yes on the North Merrick library budget.
