Support library that benefits community

What do Dr. Seuss, J.K. Rowling, Charles Dickens, preschool story hours, free downloads, e-readers to borrow, access to thousands of magazine and scholarly journals, Scrabble Club, and Crochet Club have in common? They can be found within the walls or services of the Hiawatha Public Library.

Libraries are an essential part of having an educated and literate population. Keeping our library up to date with meeting spaces, technological services to the community, and adequate staff is important to the city of Hiawatha. As our community has grown, so has the role and usage of our library. We have seen a steady rise in circulation for many years.

Hiawatha's library has the largest circulation of any other library serving a similar-sized city in our state. Some would say libraries are a thing of the past. Think again. Libraries are changing to meet the technological needs of their patrons. The Hiawatha library offers e-readers, databases for home and auto repair, computers to use on site and so much more.

On Nov. 5, vote yes for our library services levy at a rate of 27 cents per $1,000 assessed value. Let's keep working to maintain and grow an educated and literate population.

Debra Connerly

Hiawatha