Tough Times Require Tough Decisions: Take Baxter Library’s Survey

I can’t think of one place here in Gorham that provides more services or is more welcoming than our town library. As much as the library does for everyone from toddlers to senior citizens to further learning, provide a place for community gatherings, and offer activities that are just plain fun, it isn’t immune to the tough times that surround us, and town budget cuts are forcing a cut in library hours come September.

To make the best of an unfortunate situation, Pam Turner, Director of Baxter Library, has worked with staff members and the library trustees to develop a survey. The survey allows all of us to provide input regarding which time of day and day of the week we’d prefer the cuts to take place. You can take the survey by visiting the library’s website at www.baxterlibrary.org or stopping at the library to fill out a paper survey. The online link will be active until July 22, 2009 at 11:45 p.m. when the survey will close and results will be tallied.

When you think of the range of activities that take place at the library, there clearly isn’t a good time to cut hours, but that is what must happen due to budget cuts. Parents and children look forward to story hours, ever increasing numbers depend on the library’s computers to help with job searches, and many of us rely on evening hours to take advantage of library resources. I usually make a trip to the library on Saturday mornings, and I love the welcome staff members give everyone, the friends and neighbors I see, and the wealth of books, magazines, and DVDs right there at my fingertips. If you haven’t checked out the library’s website recently, you will be in for a very pleasant surprise with all that it offers.

But before you do that, take a few minutes to complete the survey and be part of the process by sharing your input.