Dear Southern Pines Public Library:When my husband and I moved to town four years ago, getting a library card was one of the first things on our to-do list. According to your website, "to obtain a card at no charge, you must show proof of ... residency or ownership of property within the town of Southern Pines." Although we don't reside in Southern Pines, we own property here -- an office building and a single-family home in downtown, and a lot in National Golf Club -- and were deemed eligible for a library card at that time.
But last week, when my husband was trying to check out a book, he was told we have to give up our library cards because our Southern Pines properties are in the name of our company rather than our personal names. Apparently the library has adopted, or recently has begun enforcing, a policy of not extending library privileges to companies.
I ask you to please, please make an exception in this case. My husband and I are the only people with Southern Pines library cards through our company, and free library access is an essential element of our budgeting and mental-health goals.
We pay Southern Pines property taxes. We cheerfully pay overdue fines. We buy books by the dozen at your library sales. We sing your praises to everyone we know. We support libraries in general, and the Southern Pines one in particular, in every way we can think of.
I hope you'll agree that we have a legitimate case, and will restore our free library privileges. Thanks for your time and consideration.
9 comments:
I don't get libraries. They don't get used by the people who live in the town, but can't be used by "non-residents" who would really use the service!
I wish I used my library card more often. Maybe that will be on my next 101!!
I love you!!
good one! that is completely insane that companies are being excluded.
Oh how sad! It never occurred to me that a library would ever require people to PAY to use their resources...
Come on S.P library, tax payers should be allowed a library card and use it even if the property is in a business name. LET THEM USE YOUR FACILITY!!!!!
Speaking as a librarian, I find this very sad! I want people to use the library. I agree completely with Renee. We need to encourage not discourage people to read and continue educationing themselves.
Regardless of policy, I'm surprised they reviewed their records and even realized that you guys were registered under a company name. Good luck!
I would think that if you explain this to the library, they'd ease up on the rules. After all, they are a tiny library as it is. I do always find it strange that you have to be a resident to use a library, yet so many budget travel books of mine say go to a library for internet access. crazy!
I sent a copy of this to the library yesterday, so I'll let you guys know if/how they respond.
This sounds totally crazy that they would do this! Are they that overwhelmed with people checking out books that they are now turning away 'business'?
I haven't visited our library in Aberdeen but I do scarf up every book in sight when I go to yard sales :) I also buy a lot of books that I specifically want on Amazon used. I haven't had any bad experiences with them (yet).
Your niece is adorable! I was catching up on some of your posts.
...hey-do you read Cloth Paper Scissors? I had my first article published in this issue!! Yeah!!
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