Check it out
by ALLEN FISHER

The title of a recent column in the American-Statesman caught my eye – “We Lose Libraries at Our Peril.” Lose libraries!? Here? How?

As the author wrote, “Public officials will tell you they love libraries and are committed to them; they just don’t believe they constitute a ‘core’ service. But if you visit public libraries, you’ll see an essential service in action…”

This service takes diverse forms at the Buda Public Library, from computers and Internet connections (which grant access to the most awesomely extensive record of human experience in our entire history) to audiobooks, job search assistance, dozens of magazines, children’s programs, reference books, a community meeting space, current bestsellers, adult literacy classes, information from and about our government, and many others.

The number and variety of these benefits are a testament to Marjorie Martinez, who retired as librarian in April after “20 years of superior service, dedication and commitment to the citizens of Buda.” The city secretary’s announcement of her death last month noted that she “led the Buda Public Library into the 21st century” and promoted literacy and lifelong learning for all the residents of northern Hays County.

The library needs your continued support to carry Marjorie’s legacy into the future. As our area grows, the need for services the library provides grows even faster, as demonstrated by the recent statistics on library use. If you can help, call the library at 295-5899 or email at budalibrary@budalibrary.org, and join the Friends of the Buda Library: budalibraryfriends@verizon.net.