Dear Editor,
It’s my understanding that the Board of Supervisors is considering making major changes to Merced County libraries due to fiscal restraints in the upcoming budget. The talk is that the supervisors are considering privatization.
How does this benefit the residents of Merced County who rely on the public library system? Isn’t it the responsibility of the county to give back to the people who pay their taxes by supporting public libraries that will not only benefit them but the communities they live in?
My name is Gerald Giesel, representing Los Banos as a member of the Friends of the Los Banos Library and a resident of Los Banos for 44 years. Los Banos and the residents pay their taxes to the county and rely on the board members who represent our districts to support, not take away, things of value. There are other ways to reduce the budget, but this should not be one of them.
The Los Banos Library was the first county branch library, located in one of the original Miller & Lux buildings, opening on Nov. 5, 1910. On Dec. 28, 1912, a new library was constructed on the corner of 7th and K Streets and shared by the Women’s Improvement Club and the Chamber of Commerce.
On Nov. 8, 1965, the new and current library in Los Banos was built and leased to the county to run and maintain. Los Banos residents have appreciated the county’s support of improving and making the library more accessible and comfortable to the general public by providing programs and a safe haven for its users.
If the above is true and county supervisors are looking for public feedback, this is my feedback.
Sincerely,
Gerald M. Giesel, Los Banos, CA
