Jan 28, 2017 3 min read

The ability to access and process information is more important than ever, and libraries are an integral part of developing these skills.

In addition to providing an incredible diversity of reading material in the form of traditional books and e-books for no charge, our local library offers a variety of programs for children. Each one is an opportunity for children to interact with each other, with new information and experiences, and to gain an appreciation of learning.

As residents of East Washington with two sons aged 4 and 1, we get an opportunity to see the value of Citizens Library on a regular basis. Our oldest son is always excited to visit the library and does so regularly. We are certain that many other children and families can say the same thing. The personal interaction he has with the librarians shouldn’t be taken for granted, as it adds immensely to his enjoyment of the library and is something we should really treasure about this local institution.

On a slightly different but related note, it was stated at the January East Washington Borough Council meeting that the majority of borough residents are at or near retirement age and that this somehow has a bearing on the ability or willingness of the borough to contribute to the funding of Citizens Library. According to statistics from the 2015 U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS), this simply isn’t the case – of the borough’s 2,244 residents 13.3 percent are 65 years of age or older while 14.4 percent of residents are 14 years of age or younger. In fact, the median age of East Washington residents in 2015 was 30.4 years which is considerably younger than the U.S. median age of 37.9 years. The young people of East Washington and the surrounding area deserve to have access to all that the library can offer.

The U.S. Census Bureau also reports that over 22 percent of households in East Washington had an income of less than $35,000 in 2015. This reinforces the importance of the local public library, as it provides programs and information for the entire community, including those who may be less able to afford access to these vital services.

We view Citizens Library as an essential local resource that is more than deserving of funding from our local governments and schools districts. We sincerely hope that the East Washington Borough Council reconsiders its decision on funding. Historically, the borough has provided $15,000 annually, which is equivalent to just $6.68 per resident, less than the cost of a single book.

While there are many important things that need to be done in the borough and limited funds to do them, we can think of very few things that are more valuable to the community – in the short run and in the long run – than our local library.

Robert and Leslie Dunn

Washington

Robert and Leslie Dunn are both associate professors of economics at Washington & Jefferson College.