Vote to expand Hiawatha’s library board

To the editor:

Did you know that the Hiawatha Public Library serves residents of Hiawatha, Cedar Rapids, Marion and surrounding communities? In 2015 the library circulated 11,111 items to Robins residents, 17,108 items to rural Linn County and 139,605 items to patrons from Cedar Rapids.

The Hiawatha Public Library board of trustees has voted in a unanimous decision to ask the residents of Hiawatha to expand the library board from five members to seven. The ballot proposes that the board members will have at least five members who will be residents of Hiawatha and two who may be residents of Linn County.

Library board members serve voluntarily. Voting to expand the library board will not affect taxpayers financially. Expanding the library board will allow the library to provide better vision and strategy to the citizens in the communities it serves. It will bring in more ideas, discussions and attention to projects to determine the mission of the library.

On Nov. 3, voters in Hiawatha will be asked to consider a ballot measure to expand the library board. I hope that residents will take this opportunity to vote on this issue.

Janet Libe

Hiawatha