Fox Valley library has earned support

I have lived in West Dundee more than 20 years, and I support the Fox River Valley Libraries' proposition on our ballot. In the interest of full disclosure, readers should know I earned a Master's in Information Studies in 2015 and work at another public library nearby; I've spent a lot of time in different libraries over the last few years. Fox River Valley Library staff work very hard to create a great space, but our library is undersized, underfunded, and woefully behind others in the area.

Budget and space constraints mean that our residents don't have as many electronic and print books, e-audios, magazines, and databases available. There are also no resources for book club collections, small group rooms, MakerSpaces, or digital studios. The last three are no longer luxuries; rather they are necessities for students to complete projects and learn to be competitive in todays' challenging work environments. In addition, kid and adult programs are frequently wait-listed, and outreach to special populations like not-for-profit groups, local small business owners, English-language learners, and the elderly is limited or nonexistent.

For years, the library has been hearing from residents that they would like improvements in these areas. This is the right time to make our libraries the right size, with more space, more books, and more programs.

Sam Adams-Lanham

West Dundee

Campaign manager

YEStoFoxLibraries.org