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I am a former resident of Jackson County and an avid library user. I would like to challenge the use of terms like "creative" and "innovative" to describe Jackson County's decision to contract out its library services to a for-profit corporation.

In my opinion, a more accurate term would be "last resort" and perhaps even "tragic." I do not want a private corporation, however well-run and well-intentioned, controlling one of the community's best sources of public information. I think running a library is one of the best roles of local government and I am willing to pay for it. I would much prefer that than having any profits made from trimming corners going to the corporation or its shareholders. We run the danger of creating "McLibraries" if this trend continues.

I wish I had an outside solution to this funding crisis, but like SaraRachel below, I believe it is now up to local taxpayers to fund these services.

posted 4 years, 11 months ago
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