Dear Editor,

This is a letter of support for the Columbia County Library staying open! The group of people that would have it closed have offered zero evidence of any child ever being harmed by the library, its books, the library board, or the previous library director. Only conjecture: conjecture is a guess, an inference, a theory, or prediction based on guesswork. That’s per Webster’s definition.

According to the Columbia County prosecuting attorney to the best of his knowledge, there has never been a reported case of child abuse at the library. I followed up with the Sheriff’s Office and checked with their records as far back as they keep them, which is since October 1999, there has never been a case of child abuse associated with the library.

Child abuse is a very serious problem in the country with around 600,000 cases annually. It’s estimated that 77% of the children are victimized by one or both of their parents.

Based on the above information I’ve asked the county commissioners at their work session meeting July 24th, 2023, to consider making the library and other county operated properties designated as safe places. Also, I asked them to consider joining the National Safe Place Network (NSPN).

As Far as the budget issues are concerned another conjecture, they have presented no evidence of a similar library with a smaller budget.

Please, keep the library open!!!

Thank you!

Gerald M. Kaiser