R. Braiden Trapp
The public library isn’t the public institution it once was. The Española Public Library is plagued by an apathetic city administration, a tight and dwindling budget, an inactive library board, a slowly deteriorating facility and a rotation of librarians. But there are books, newspapers, magazines, movies and music to be checked out and in that regard it fills a desperate need in a county plagued by a low literacy rate.
Most of our population can’t afford to buy books, so the public library is the only option. The same is true of computer ownership and internet access.
Because most of the population can’t afford books, it’s unfortunate the library must charge a deposit for some books to be checked out. But it must. We’re told certain books continually get checked out, never to return. The library must then purchase a new copy.
Perhaps a more thorough background check and proof of residency would make it easier for the library to pursue the few who steal books, instead of charging everyone a deposit. It would also be worth a conversation with the incoming district attorney regarding prosecuting those who steal library books. If the D.A. will go after someone for a $50 bad check, why not go after someone who steals that much in books?
The other pseudo-policy that goes against American Library Association philosophy is the librarian’s thoughts on pornography. The Association is one of the most liberal in the country and holds that books should not be banned, regardless of content and pornography is something patrons may choose to look at or may choose not to.
Being first amendment advocates, we must agree. No, it’s not good for a six-year-old playing some game or maybe even doing homework, to be sitting next to a 25-year-old viewing pornography.
However, instead of banning it, or discouraging it, the library should find a way to deal with it. Perhaps separating some machines and keeping adults away from children. That’s a simple cabling and hub solution. A patron has the same right to view pornography as the next patron’s right to look up army ants’ mating habits.
The bigger problems the library faces is where the next librarian will come from, if we can coax one here at all. The next problem is training the staff, replacing those who can’t be trained and leading the library board to take some action(s) on improving the existing library and pushing for a new one.
The library is an oasis in a city bereft of facilities and activities for citizens. It must be managed properly funded properly and encouraged to become better at serving citizens’ needs. A good librarian in charge will make that difference.