Books and libraries have been part of my life as long as I can remember. A first port of call in any new place I’m in as a visitor or a resident, is the local library. I was the happy owner of a library card within my first few days in Coupeville, and have done my best to keep up their circulation figures for the past 17 years.

I started as a helper at the Friends of the Library book sales and am now the book sale chairman. As such, I have become very familiar with the growing need for more space. As the town has grown, so has library use; circulation, programs, computer use and children’s activities. I am reminded of the Old Woman in the Shoe!

Because of my work with their book sales, I am often in the “back room” sorting books. The staff does many services in a very limited area. Space is so tight that no corner goes unused.

Coupeville is a reading town, and proves it by making hundreds of visits every day to check out and return books, use the computers, read magazines and papers and attend a variety of programs. All of this free of charge. The bond measure will add about $22 a year to an average $300,000 house. One hardback book purchase, a couple of paperbacks or a few lattes out of an annual budget should not be a real sacrifice; it’s bargain hard to beat.

Please vote “yes” in August and give Coupeville and Central Whidbey the library they deserve.

Janet Enzman

Coupeville