We soon discovered the Williamsburg Regional Library and it wonderful collection of children’s books, which far surpassed our home library
Each visit we would go to the Williamsburg library and my son would borrow books to read on the trips between WV and Williamsburg. We did this for 3 years till we finally decided to move to Williamsburg.

It is wrong to deny a library to people who do not pay taxes in a particular municipality.

The right thing to do it come up with a plan that makes books accessible to everyone and figure out what are reasonable fees for non-residents. To deny this service goes against the core of the library’s mission.

This has been pointed out to SWB and others on her blog and other sites. They want to hear it directly from the mouth of the library board members or director, but they won’t – it’s just not politically possible for them to be that public with it. Don’t believe me – read about it here directly from the York Board of Supervisors – http://bit.ly/fVuRo4

Laura also says: “Williamsburg gets a significant amount of funding from the state” About 4% is state aid – a number that has been decreasing across the state for years.

The point is, if people from these other counties are able to check out items, then one of the existing partners in this regional library system could pull out – and some of their politicians have made exactly that threat repeatedly over the years. And the loss of their contribution couldn’t be made up through paid cards – the cost would be way north of $100.

Even one lousy library reflects poorly on the state. And that isn’t just a swipe at Virginia – Pennsylvania has some poor libraries, too. And the budget problems with the big library systems – the Carnegie Library in the Pittsburgh area and the Free Library in the Philadelphia area – also reflect badly on those cities and the state as a whole.

For an example, check out the web page for the Saltsburg Free Library: bssd.org/sfl

Their page was last updated in 2005. There’s no dedicated library building. Their e-mail address goes through a local internet service provider. There’s no OPAC and they have shockingly short hours of operation.

Once again you apparently have little to no idea what you’re talking about but insist still on levying your unsubstantiated criticism. You say “If a poor area cannot afford good libraries … then the state as a whole should provide them. There are states that do that and states that don’t.”

Well, Virginia is one that does, or at least helps provide them, so again your criticism has little basis. You can find extensive documentation with figures county-by-county/city-by-city on the “State Aid to Virginia Public Libraries” page on the Library of Virginia website.

So, at some point people have to stop passing the buck do they? Well, at some point people also have to stop spouting off criticism centered on vague generalizations completely at odds with easily verifiable basic fact. You’ve done this twice now and twice I have refuted you. Why are you so focused on levying criticism at a whole state’s attitude towards libraries to the point that you’ll do it even in such contravention to fact? One might wonder if your motive is not something other than discussing the issue at hand. Perhaps not, but one wonders.

Say what you want and express any opinion you want, but if you’re going to criticize others then get your stuff straight.

I was referring to the larger community, not just the community of a given town or county. There are vast discrepancies of wealth among towns and counties. That’s why I feel that it is a state issue. If a poor area cannot afford good libraries, schools, and fire departments then the state as a whole should provide them. There are states that do that and states that don’t. And yes, that does reflect the community of the state. At some point people have to stop passing the buck.