Your Community Library

CA few days ago, a fairly new resident of the Town of Clinton wrote a letter to the Poughkeepsie Journal praising the amazing amount of service and comfort provided by the Clinton Community Library. If you click on the underlined name in colored type, your browser will open the library's very attractive Web site.  The Web site has links to various community functions and also the informative newsletter.  

Of course, much of the service in Clinton is provided by the Mid-Hudson Library system and is also available from the Web site of our Pleasant Valley Free Library.  Patrons can borrow and request books from any library in the system for delivery to your library. And, as this blog notes in its title, "It's Not Just Books." DVD's and CD's and high-speed Internet access are among the most popular features of today's community libraries. Also, your community library has frequent programs for children and for adults.  

No wonder community libraries are popular.  Even in these very difficult economic times, 88% of the opportunities to increase taxes to support libraries in the Mid-Hudson region resulted in votes in favor of higher taxes, proof that the communities value their library services.  Of course, patrons who use the library services receive far more as a bargain than they pay out in taxes. Books for reading and movies for viewing are free, along with Internet usage.  The average book these days costs more than $25 and a DVD of a motion picture is almost as expensive.  After only a few loans for the year, the patron has saved more than the library portion of the tax bill.

The Pleasant Valley Free Library could be an even more valued part of the community.  As readers of this blog know, we have reached the limits of our building.  The Library Board of Trustees has decided to spend a significant portion of its Capital Funds on necessary repairs.  The Friends of the Pleasant Valley Library are raising money with book sales to improve the safety of the building and its grounds.  The Building Expansion Committee is applying for State and Foundation funds to improve handicapped access.  But all of these changes, while necessary and desirable, only improve a building that is too small for the services we offer.  We are actively raising money for expansion of the building now.  If you value your community library, please send a check or make a credit-card donation to the Pleasant Valley Library Donor Building Fund at the Community Foundation of Dutchess County.