Open more libraries

I love books and libraries, and I love old buildings. The Argenta Branch Library has all of these things. I believe that Mayor Joe Smith, his staff and the library board can solve the financial problems of the library.

The library is an asset to the area and the community. Mayor Smith has promoted this area with wonderful results and, with the additional housing, more and more people will continue to use it. If he can find money for a restaurant at the airport, he should be able to find it to provide library services for the people, particularly the kids in North Little Rock.

We don’t need to close libraries; we need to open more. They are the continuing education, recreational and cultural services of a city. May I suggest we open school libraries during the summer months? They could provide books to neighborhoods without library services, enrichment classes, tutoring, storytelling and computer classes. The possibilities are endless.

Let’s not stop there. Why not open the gymnasium for recreational activities? Basketball, badminton, physical education, Zumba for kids, gymnastics. Instead of couch potatoes, athletes and healthy kids.

Yes, it will cost money, but empty buildings teach nothing. We need to think outside the box. Business people have complained for years that companies won’t come here because our people don’t have the knowledge or skills. They should step up to the plate and underwrite a summer library program. And we have a wealth of retirees with skills they would be happy to share. STEPHANY BAILEY

North Little Rock