The Norman Transcript
May 17, 2008 12:23 am
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Editor, The Transcript:
I'm part of the minority that voted for the new library. I think we need it and I don't really care where it is located, as long as it's reasonably central in Norman.
As for the Cadillac of libraries assertion, I don't mind that, either. Norman has no community center, and having a library as the cornerstone of a community center strikes me as a good idea. When we finally do build a new library, I hope it will serve the combined function of library and community center. What better place to come together as community to meet and discuss issues, literature and ideas? To have our teens watch Friday night movies? To have a top-notch computer center, centrally located, and classes to teach people how to use it? To have all the toddlers in town welcomed to story time? To celebrate diversity in cultures? A City Center, if you will.
I think branch libraries, as some people are discussing, are not necessary -- Norman is not so big yet that people cannot get to the library in a reasonable amount of driving time. We east-side residents drive to the west for almost everything, including the Y, swimming pool, most of the retail and all of the movie theaters. For those on the west side to occasionally drive east helps to reinforce the idea that Norman is, after all, one city, as opposed to East Norman and West Norman. Additionally, a centrally-located library is close to both high schools.
As for the current library building -- I'd rather give half of it to the seniors and half of it for a youth center. (It strikes me as odd that we provide a senior citizens center and not a youth center.)
So, fellow, citizens, let's think about this some more, discuss it some more and ask the library staff and supporters to come up with a proposal for a location. However, unless it's on publicly-owned land, I don't know how it will be purchased without the bond issue we just voted down. And, I don't know how a location on privately owned land can be made public ahead of time without a resulting price-hike.
Yes, a new library will cost us each some money. But, what better legacy, in addition to fine schools, can we leave to Future Norman? I'm on a "fixed" retirement income, too, but I realize the world didn't start with me and it won't stop with me, either. Being retired doesn't mean we have to become selfish old geezers. A state-of-the art library with a place for the community to come together sounds like a worthwhile gift to the city we all call home.
LINDA SEXTON
Norman
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