The six library directors in Humboldt County take turns, rotating alphabetically, in appearing before the Board of Supervisors to make an appeal for funding. This year I drew the short straw. It’s not actually my turn. It is Gilmore City’s, but their director is brand new on the job. It didn’t seem fair to expect her to do it before she gets her feet wet. She can take my turn next year.

I was very nervous the first time I appeared before the Supervisors. Such an imposing building, our courthouse. Such an important-looking room. But, such a nice bunch of people. They made me feel welcome and were interested to hear what our libraries were doing with the funds they gave us.

As I sat down to type up some notes for my presentation, I thought you might like to see what I found out about Humboldt County Public Libraries.

-Our libraries are open a combined 173 hours per week.
-We have 7,845 registered library card holders.
-More than 120,000 library items checked out each year.
-There are 33 public computers in Humboldt County libraries used by almost 400 people per week.
-7,000 children attend library programs ear yearin Humboldt County.
-There are more than 65,000 items available for checkout including 4,500 movies available free.
-79,000 people enter our buildings every year.

Isn’t all that amazing? That is what we have been able to do with the limited funds available so far.
But, these are desperate economic times. Many families are struggling. Tough economic times put big demands on library facilities, materials and staff.

Many people use our library computers for job searches, to compose resumes and cover letters and to complete online job applications. Kum & Go no longer takes paper job applications. All applications must be submitted online. That, of course, requires a computer with internet service. We have both at our libraries and the service is free to the users.

We have seen an increase in library computer usage. Perhaps when someone’s home computer needed replacement, funds weren’t available. Perhaps home internet service was cancelled to save money. Sometimes a person may have both a computer and internet service at home, but the printer needs ink. At ten cents per page it’s easier to squeeze a couple of copies at the library into the budget than a $40 ink cartridge.

DVD checkouts are also on the rise. That’s one more place families can cut down. There is no charge to borrow a library dvd. We checked out more than 1200 dvds in December.

Nothing in today’s world is really free. Computers, library internet service, library staff salaries, books and movies have all been paid for by our tax dollars. Libraries are like streets and highways. They have been paid for with city, county, state and federal tax dollars, they aren’t truly free. However, there is no additional cost to the user to drive on them.

If you see your city council persons, your county supervisors, your state senators and representatives, tell them thanks for paving roads and funding libraries. Remind them that difficult times are not the right times to cut library funding. Difficult times are when we need libraries the most.