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Letters to The Platteville Journal for Jan. 21
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What the library does

Like most public libraries across the country, the Platteville Public Library provides access to books, computers, and programs for people of all ages, and access to a variety of other informational sources. The Platteville Public Library allows all citizens regardless of their age, race, gender, ethnicity, ability, economic circumstance, or geographic location to utilize its services and resources.

The Platteville Public Library has 15 employees and served more than 17,000 people in 2014. All of the physical resources, programs, materials, employees, and library users share the 10, 459 square foot facility.

Our perception of shared community facilities like our library and schools is often shaped by the physical structure itself. The Platteville library is so much more. The Platteville Public Library’s fibers are the resources they provide and its lifeblood is the patrons it serves. However, the current facility limits the amount and types of resources the library is able to provide, the number of patrons able to be served, and the quality of the experience had by each visitor.

Platteville now anticipates construction of a new 22,000 foot facility as part of a development project downtown in 2015 and 2016. The Library Board of Trustees and the Library Foundation Board of Directors advocate that the focus of this community project should lie on that — the community. The greater Platteville community will benefit from use of an upgraded shared community space dedicated to serving the information, education, and entertainment needs of area residents.

Over time libraries and the services they provide have changed to meet the needs of the patrons and the communities they serve. To best serve the current and future needs of our community, it is time for our library facility to change. While the physical space will change, the values that the library stands for will remain the same — stewardship, service, intellectual freedom, literacy and learning.

Betsy Ralph-Tollefson
Secretary, Platteville Public Library Foundation
Tim Durst
President, Platteville Public Library
Board of Trustees

he Platteville Journal will print most letters to the editor, regardless of the opinion presented. The Journal reserves the right to edit material that is libelous or otherwise offensive to community standards and to shorten letters the Journal feels are excessively long. All letters must be signed and the signature must appear on the printed letter, along with a contact number or email for verification. Some submitted letters may not be published due to space constraints. “Thank you” letters will not be printed. All letters and columns represent the views of the writers and not necessarily the views of The Platteville Journal.