Reading is Fundemental

I remember as a child, going to the library to get my first library card. My dad even signed us up .or the summer reading program. Every week we told the librarian in the children's section about the books we had read so that we could get a gold star. As a teenager, I would meet there with friends to study or work on whatever book report was due. I, being the nerdy type, even went to the library to read for recreation.

20 years later, I found myself living in a community that doesn't allow my children access to the local library, because we do not reside in the village. When my oldest entered Kindergarten, she was heartbroken that she could not take out a book on her class trip to the Library. Her peers could, however because she did not live in the village, she was not permitted to get a library card.

Things have since changed a little, but they have made it difficult. We can have limited access to the library, & borrow non-newly released books (no media). In order to gain our lower offering of library services, the condition is, we travel out to East Meadow, and request a county library card. No kindly local librarian to make my kids feel important. Not exactly welcoming us with open arms.

How ridiculous is this? I get it, Village residents pay extra for the priviledge of living in the village, with all its standards and ammenities. Should the local Library, the only one in town, be considered one of those priviledged ammenities?