Editor’s Note: The following letter was addressed to Ohio Governor Ted Strickland by Carrollton resident Alan Kemerer who asked us to share it with our readers.

Governor Strickland:
Libraries seem to be a convenient afterthought for budget balance.
I have spent and do spend much of time traveling and use my laptop constantly. My laptop became corrupted while on the road and locked up. Only because I had a ghosted backup of my hard drive in total back home did I avoid disaster. Since then, I never interface with it on the Internet but use customer or public library access exclusively.

As the result, I have been using the local public library frequently since that occurrence in 2004. I have seen a dramatic increase in use of its services by all gender, ages, vocations etc. I have seen throughout the state the dedication of the libraries, staff and advisory boards being extremely frugal in their planning for expansions and use of funding and programs available to them. Yes, in contrast to the government and school boards, they are extremely good stewards of their funding. They actually read proposals and understand what they say before voting and implementation.

Upon hearing about the proposed cuts, I hastily prioritized the libraries to no. 2 with schools being no. 1. Having time to reflect, I believe the libraries do a better job with what they have than the schools. Our community is presently at odds with the school board about selling a donated swimming pool and the proposed, if not mandated, remodeling of the present auditorium and stage into a cafetorium.

Minerva has a new cafetorium where I observed my granddaughter perform a few days ago. Flat floor so I could not see her; carpet on the floor; so much for teenagers eating food and being able to clean the floor. Not good for either an auditorium but part of the state’s requirements to get money to build the new school.

Lastly, I hope your administration has been successfully audited by Mary Taylor. If not, how can you even consider proposing a budget if 2008 monies spent were irreconcilable?
Find the money elsewhere.

Alan Kemerer
Carroll County resident

<<Back>>

The Free Press Standard invites you to post your thoughts on the story in the box below.

• However, before you post, please read these few basic rules.
• Be appropriate. Posts with obscene, explicit, sexist or racist language will be deleted.
• Be polite. Posts containing personal attacks, insults, or threats will be deleted.
• Be honest. Potentially libelous statements will be deleted.
• Don't 'spam'. Posts advertising or promoting commercial products will be deleted.
• Help monitor your community. Click "Report Abuse" on any entry that violates these guidelines.
• This is your forum, with your opinions.

These posts do not reflect the views of the The Free Press Standard or its employees.