Date: Fri 10-Nov-1995

By CURT CLARK

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

edink-Booth-Library-addition

Full Text:

The Enduring Value Of The Library

It's a situation all of us have known: standing unattended for a moment in a

friend's home, perusing the bookshelf. Looking at the titles, and the books

themselves - the telltale signs of use in the binding and the care with which

they are kept - gives us a quick glimpse into the mind and character of

another person. The books we have read stand like milestones along the path of

the great intellectual and cultural journey that is life. The books we have

yet to read help chart the course that journey has yet to take. As

individuals, our bookshelves reveal our nature. As communities, our libraries

do the same.

We have expressed our support for the proposed library plan in this space

before. The plan addresses a critical need to update local library facilities

and to accommodate the growing public demand for information as we stand at

the threshold of the Information Age. It makes both financial sense cultural

sense.

Newtown has a history of putting off needed capital projects far too long with

the financially disasterous result of multiplying the cost over time without

any increase in public benefit. Had the town's sewer system been built ten

years ago, it would have cost a fraction of what we're paying now, and it

would have gone farther towards securing the environmental integrity of the

town for the future.

In trying to downplay the need for a renovated and expanded library on Main

Street, some opponents to the plan have suggested that we won't need more than

a token library in years to come because all information now in books will be

available through home computers (available, that is, to homes that have

computers).

Technology is certainly ready for that eventuality. Home computers already

have access to the world through the Internet, including information about

Newtown. The Bee's World Wide Web pages on the Internet now provide weekly

reports of local news, and the Booth Library, like other public libraries

around the nation, has opened its card catalogue to home computer users

through the CARL system. The same technology that has made these services

available to the public is capable of providing an ever-broadening range of

information - and probably will. But those who believe that this will be

enough are wrong.

The enduring value of public libraries in our culture is derived not solely

from their content, whether it is found on vellum or CD Rom. It also depends

on the interaction of people, connected by place, mutual experience, and

common purpose, willing to share ideas with each other, inspire each other,

read stories to each other, to laugh with and care for each other. These are

human interactions of the best sort carried out every day in the name of

intellect and culture in our libraries. It will be a very long time before

technology will enable us to do this at opposite ends of fiber optic lines in

the unvarying radiant glow of a computer screen. It is the difference between

looking over the cracked bindings of a friend's bookcase and peering at a list

of titles on a laptop screen. Both experiences convey information; only one

conveys understanding.

Nighthawk Track And Field Teams Host Meet

New Heights Vacation Bible School Returning

Next HRRA Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Event Scheduled In Newtown

Genealogy Club's Next Program To Dig Into 'Dissecting A Civil War Pension Record'

Choral Society Planning ‘Voices Of America’ Performance

The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

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Date: Fri 10-Nov-1995

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