Reston Spring

Reston Spring
Reston Spring

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Letter: Saving Public Libraries, Kathy Kaplan, Reston Connection, October 16, 2013

The following beginning to a letter by Reston resident Kathy Kaplan clearly and factually lays out the poor state and prospects for our County's libraries, including Reston Regional Library set as the guinea pig for the new County library vision.
 To the Editor:
A significant number of planners expect the nation to be illiterate by 2050, so books will not be needed. Instead of planning for my grandchildren’s needs today, the county has decided to prepare for their grandchildren’s needs in an imaginary future where people no longer read, where electronic devices enable them to communicate without written language, where books no longer exist. (From a study on architect Grimm & Parker’s website.)
Changes being currently considered to the Reston Regional Library will eliminate the children’s desk and all Youth Services. All children’s librarians will be eliminated. Information librarians will be eliminated. Professional degrees for librarians will no longer be required even for the position of library director. Staff will be cut by a third, from 20.5 to 13.5.
Because of the community uproar over book dumping by FCPL, citizens and taxpayers have been given a little time for public input to consider the proposed changes (the Beta Plan). Supervisor Cathy Hudgins will host a public meeting Oct. 30 at the Hunters Woods Elementary School at 2401 Colts Neck Road, Reston, at 7 p.m.
If library services are something you value, you need to attend this meeting and let your opinions be known. . .
Click here to read the rest of this excellent letter.

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