LETTERS TO THE EDITOR...Moving library is an `expensive risk'

Dear editor, My thanks go to Jack Rumley for his reasoned and reasonable letter of March 3, regarding the folly of losing a library from the current location in central Georgetown. According to the library, 70 per cent of households make use of our two local libraries, which probably makes it the most used public institution around, more so than the post office, schools, hospitals and perhaps even hockey arenas. Has it not occurred to anyone that the reason that it may be so popular is just because of its location-- centralized, charming and part of a larger cultural centre? Moving it and turning our library into something Mississaugalike, all because of a consultant's report is, as Mr. Rumley pointed out, a huge and expensive risk for the Library Board and the Town of Halton Hills to take. It was only 25 years ago or so that the vision to expand the original library space resulted in the wonderful centre that currently exists. While there are concerns from the library staff regarding lack of space for administration and storage, surely they can be addressed without throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Whatever the problems are, they should not be resolved by taking the most simplistic solution of dumping an historic and centralized location and throwing millions of dollars into a building that, according to the Library Board's own consultant's report, will be inadequate as of 2023. Perhaps it is time to update that 25 year-old vision with some innovative thinking. And what of library services for Acton? It is shameful that there is nary a word. Why should Georgetown get millions when everyone agrees the library in Acton needs attention? What are the community priorities here-- if not from the Library Board itself, then the Town? Surely our favourite public institutions should be serving all residents with a bit more equity. Kate Murray, Glen Williams