Readers Respond -- Joint-use library provides safety discussion
I am writing to express my concerns and opposition regarding the
proposed joint-use Mariners Library (“Mariners Branch Library concerns go
online,” May 10).
I am a parent of two children who currently attend Mariners Elementary
School. We think our school is excellent and we are strong supporters.
The following comments outline several of the many reasons that I do not
think a joint-use elementary school/public library should be built in our
community.
I believe that a librarian dedicated to the specific needs of the
children, curriculum and teachers at Mariners is superior to several
librarians that must serve the needs of the general public. The
collection of books in the public library would not exclusively be for
the use of Mariners students. Materials for reports and projects would be
subject to lending for anyone who requests them.
In my opinion, the school would be served better by spending a much
smaller amount of money to update the collection of the existing Mariners
school. If only a small portion of the million dollars currently being
solicited were used to update all the libraries in the school district,
the money would be put to much more effective use.
I support continued separation of the Mariners Public Library and the
Mariners Elementary School library. The current school library is housed
in a very nice portable classroom. I do not think a larger area is
necessary for the school. The existing public Mariners library could do
with some updating, but I use it frequently and am very satisfied with
it.
I do not think that the proposed joint-use library will provide safety
and security equivalent to the existing school library. I absolutely do
not like or feel comfortable with the idea that the school children
visiting the library for school purposes during the day could mix with
the the general public. As the proposed library would be a facility open
to the public, I do not see how this mixing could be prevented. It is
hard enough to maintain a secure and safe campus at the school without
adding another entry point for strangers.
I do not want my children using or having access to computers that do
not have strict Internet filters for material such as pornography and
hate sites. These sites are not suitable for my children. If my child
does use a nonfiltered computer, I need to be physically present so that
I can exercise parental judgment on Web sites. Currently, the public
library does not filter Internet access and I do not expect they will any
time soon. It is too much of a burden on teachers to attend to this
responsibility with a large class.
There is no specific successful example of a joint-use library
involving an elementary school. Leaders in the field of library and
information services have not supported joint-use facilities with
elementary schools. In fact, most of them don’t support joint-use
libraries.
I do not want my children to be guinea pigs in this ill-fated
experiment. Just because a project has the ability to be funded with
Proposition 14 dollars, it does not necessarily follow that the project
is a good one. The availability of project funding does not mean that the
money is well spent.
I urge the community to reconsider any support for the Mariners Joint
Use Library project.
PEGGY A. PUGH
Newport Beach
This is regarding the May 7 Community Commentary by Kirt Gentry
(“Risks of joint-use library outweigh benefits”). We assume the writer of
the letter fearing the proposed joint-use Mariners Library is well
meaning and only needs to be more informed.
Actually, the new library will be a much safer one than the current
public library and school library. The new one will have video security
cameras and, unlike the present library, the librarians will have good
visual control of the entire room.
There will be a secure door between the children’s room and the rest
of the library. Children’s restrooms will be located inside the
children’s room.
The safety of the children is primary. How could anyone think that the
school, its teachers and parents would accept anything less?
There is a great need to replace our antiquated library with a larger,
safer and technologically superior one. What a great opportunity to do
so.
TOM AND ANNE JOHNSON
Newport Beach
* EDITOR’S NOTE: The letter writer is not related to Daily Pilot
publisher Tom Johnson.
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