DEAR EDITOR:

A Poland Library citizens group has been formed with one goal: to preserve and maintain the Poland Library in its current location. The group is guided by an adapted quotation: “The only necessary thing for bad things to happen is for good men and women to do nothing.”

The Youngstown and Mahoning County Library Board is considering closing the existing 2001 library and using library funds to build a new facility. Such a project would cost far more than repairing the current building, and all Mahoning County taxpayers would share the financial burden of this decision. The library is supported by both state funds and a local 2.4-mill tax levy.

Several members of the citizens group spoke to the library board at its Sept. 11 meeting, urging members to keep the library where it is. There was no response from the board.

Our library is an architectural masterpiece. It celebrates our past, our present and our future.

We have collected over 2,000 signatures on our petition to save our library. It is the voice of the people of Mahoning County and we have also received formal resolutions from Poland Village and Poland Township urging the library to stay in its current location.

To relocate this library would be devastating to our community and to Mahoning County, and it would be devastating to the reputation of the Mahoning County library system, a reputation that would follow that system for years and years to come.

The fate of our library should not be left in the hands of any one individual. The library board has the power to reject any plans for relocation. We ask that the board do the right thing and that each board member use his or her vote to keep our library in its current location. The voters of Mahoning County will accept nothing less.

DAVID SMITH

JOAN SMITH

Poland