DEAR EDITOR:

After reading the recent news article on the future of the Family Place Library, I was a bit taken back at the quote,” Libraries are not only about books. They are about strengthening families and supporting children from their earliest years.” I assert that the very heart of a library’s premise is all about “THE BOOK”. The library first and foremost should be promoting literacy from infancy to the golden years.

Andrew Carnegie, who helped make so many libraries possible, including Mahoning County, donated to libraries because he believed they were essential for self -improvement and that money should be used in lending books to others.

Libraries should leave social service to the local county, city and township governments where taxpayers are already paying for these services. I’m concerned that our library’s mission is detracting from their ability to provide literacy to the Mahoning County community, the base which pays the taxes for the library to exist.

Duplicity of services is counterproductive. Let the library remain focused on literacy and let Children and Family Services focus on social service. Expanding into social services can strain an already stretched budget, potentially reducing funds available for traditional services like book collections, technology access and core literacy programs.

During the Search Ohio shutdown, it was quite frustrating to realize how many books I wanted to get hard copies were unavailable, only to find electronic or e -books as my only option. It was then I realized how much I depended on Search Ohio as a resource for my reading pleasure because my local library fell short.

Please reflect and reconsider the libraries priorities. From the days when I rode my bike to the West Side Library and brought home my 2 allotted books to today when I visit the library several times a week, this devoted patron requests that the library keep literacy as its core mission.

REBECCA SEVACHKO TOMAN

Canfield