Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

I would like to know who decided that it would be a good idea to close the Barton Public Library for Christmas Break (23 Dec 23 – 02 Jan 24).

This has never been done in the past – so why this year?

It can’t be because of “BUDGET CUTS” because the employees will still be paid! This is just another of the many examples of how the Barton Public Library does not seem to want to support the local community or it’s children. The children will be out of school during this same time and will have no access to any library books. Patrons will have no access to the free computers or even a warm place to just sit and relax while out of the cold. I highly doubt the city and county public offices will also be closed during this same time – even though they too are public employees!

Additionally, why is the Barton Library closed all day on 7 Dec for the Christmas parade which doesn’t start until 7 p.m. Craighead County recently voted to cut the Jonesboro Public Library’s funding by half because the library director refused to listen to the library patron’s complaints and concerns about the library. Maybe it time for the citizens of El Dorado to follow that same course and vote to reduce the El Dorado Barton Public Library funding from 1 mil to .5 mil to make it more in line with the Union County millage of .4 mils.

Since the public library won’t provide the service to the community that they are paid to do – then the library is no longer an asset to the citizens of El Dorado and probably should be replaced.

Karla D. Nelson

El Dorado