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.