There are several Central Whidbey pit stops where locals see each other all the time: the grocery store, the post office and the library. I usually spend money at the first two stops, but hardly ever at the library in Coupeville.

Thirty years ago I used to buy books on a regular basis. Then children arrived, and all discretionary spending became suspect. Over the years I realized that I didn’t mind reading and receiving most of my books from the library system. I know it has saved me enormous amounts of cash.

What are the other reasons I love the Sno-Isle Library system so much? I frequently am in Freeland, Coupeville and Oak Harbor. I consider all of these branch locations “my library.” Sno-Isle has a fair and rapid “hold” system to get me the books I want. They also run an interlibrary loan system that is unbelievable. My wife and I have received little-known or out-of-print books that even a bookseller cannot provide. This saves me dollars I would have used for travel, doing research.

What do you do when your hard drive crashes and it will take two weeks to get that replacement computer? You go to your local library branch and use their computers. Don’t want to buy a local paper or a Seattle magazine? Hit the library for these needs. Splurged on that new laptop, but don’t want to spend money in a coffee shop, just to get WiFi? Come to the library.

Where can you take your kids when they are driving you crazy at home? Yep, the library has an abundance of children’s books and programs. Specialized children librarians are on site to help your little darlings. No charge for this service, either.

The Coupeville branch of Sno-Isle Libraries desperately needs more room and the ability to offer more services to a growing population. The ballot measures on Aug. 19 will result in doubling the current library size. Why should you spend some of your tax dollars for the best library system I’ve ever used? Take it from the cheapest person I know: Using your local library saves money,

To get your questions answered on-line, go to the “Vote Yes! TWICE!” website (www.voteyescoupevillelibrary.org/).

Mike Diamanti

Coupeville