Outraged

I have recently learned that to get a card to the only local public library, I have to pay $50 annually, because I live in College Place and not Walla Walla. Now, for those of you who are not familiar with the CP/WaWa divide -- there really isn't one. The mighty Myra Road -- a 2 lane road with a Home Depot and sports store on it -- divides the two towns. If you blinked, you would miss it. Though the library is supported by county tax revenue, and CP is in the same county as WaWa, CP county tax revenue for some reason does not go to supporting the library. The city of CP does provide a limited amount of reimbursement -- up to half -- for CP residents who get a library card.

WTF, people?!? A public library is supposed to be for all the people, not just those who can afford it or live on one side of a street. I am thoroughly outraged. One of the places J and I toured when we were thinking about moving out here was the library, because the public library has played an important role in my life. I still have library cards from when I was 4 years old. Libraries are a place for people from different neighborhoods, different socio-economic classes to meet, to share ideas. Libraries are a place to explore, research, learn and not be hindered by money and censorship. And, the kids in CP attend high school in WaWa, but only those living in WaWa can use this public resource free of charge.

Instead of just bitching or ponying up the $50, I'm going to do something about this. I'm going to attend city council meetings, library board meetings, county meetings and get this rectified -- not just for me, but for all the people who can't afford to pay $50 or even $25 to use what should be, in my opinion, a public resource.

Ri-f*cking-diculous.