To the editor,

I am concerned about the current situation with our library. It makes no sense to me that anyone would want to close such a valuable resource in our county. When the first petition to close the library showed up at the Senior Center, I read it (as I was taught to read anything before, I sign) and was immediately incensed that this was in the works! Then, I read some of the letters to the editor in the Chronicle. This motivated me to go do my own research. I do not listen to gossip and hearsay. My quest is to seek the truth then, make my own opinion.

I visited the library basement to see just where the books in question were stored. The Young Adult/College Age section was as far from the young children section as possible in that room. I checked out "What the T" and read it stem to stern. This is not a section I would normally visit. I then thought-just what is the big deal here! As an elder and retired R.N. I could see nothing wrong with this information.

It is a parent's responsibility to know what your child is reading. Gossip, misinformation and stretching the truth to a lie is counterproductive. Please save our library and it's many valuable services. Vote NO to the dissolution of the Columbia County Rural Library District.

Betty Keller

Dayton, Wash.

To the editor,

Libraries essential for Democracy to Thrive. The first amendment granted our right to free speech, and freedom of religion to whatever form you choose for that to be. These includes many examples, freedom of press, the right to vote, freedom to write a book, freedom of a variety of different religions or none at all. The fourteenth amendment added additional protections with our first amendment including the right of life, liberty, and property, including freedom to "Read a book".

These freedoms allowed us to be better educated and accumulate a better standard of living for our nation, it helped establish guidelines within our branches of governance and their duties/responsibilities (Including justice), it helped to set rules to our representative democracy as well.

Currently, there appears to be a strong movement towards Christian Nationalism currently from the right, that jeopardizes these freedoms with propaganda and magnification. They use terms like "Grooming", misrepresenting what grooming really is. Grooming isn't allowing more opinions, and more information. Actually, grooming is limiting information and access to it. In 1933 Germany groomed young Nazi's by having them pile books deemed inappropriate into piles and burning them.

We must maintain our freedom of expression in the United States, (Including access to different books and opinion), failure to do so, could have horrific results, including the prospect of tyranny through authoritarian rule.

Troy Prouty

McMinnville, Ore.