FORUMS & LETTERS

Letters



Editor,

I wish to respond to mail I received about the Becas program of the Biblioteca, Atención, Aug 15. For over 50 years it has been one of the major contributions the Biblioteca has been able to give to the community and we always want to see it continue to improve educational opportunities for the youth of San Miguel. During the next 12 months, more than 900,000 pesos will be given to youth in the area for support of their education. One of the three primary missions of the Biblioteca is provide cultural and educational opportunity to young people here and I am confident that every board member fully supports that goal.

I believe the Atención article you are referring to is the one that discussed our ongoing need for support if the missions of the Biblioteca are to continue to be met. One of the disadvantages of long-term dramatic success is that people begin to assume it is simply natural and will always continue. At this moment, although the community takes advantage of Biblioteca offerings in record numbers, the paid membership has dropped greatly and donations to meet our needs have also declined this year to the point that we need to consider reducing programs for the coming year. This, of course, we do not want to do, but the Biblioteca has always relied on membership and financial contributions from the community and if those do not continue, the services we offer will have to be cut.

Ken Rowland, Biblioteca Pública Treasurer