The Commissioners Court of Llano County has landed a near crippling blow to the budget of the Llano Library System. The operating days have been reduced from 5 ½ to 4 days (Monday – Thursday). The book budget has been cut from $37,000 to $20,000 and the supply budget from $12,000 to $10,000.

I suspect that MY Commissioner, Mr. Jerry Don Moss, does know where the library is but I have not seen the Gentleman in the library in years and I am in the library once or twice a day almost every day. Point is the Five (Four Commissioners plus the Judge) have not a clue what goes on in the library.

It was reported that the judge said the library is NON-Essential. Like schools are NON-Essential, Judge? At any given time in the library, all nine adult computers are in use. Some people are doing research on trying to find a job, some are working on a resume, and still others are sending emails to Granny.

There are special programs provided by Tommi Myers for your children. The library is overflowing during the summer reading program. The parents of these children don’t think the library is NON-Essential. Some patrons are physically challenged and use the library just as a place to meet and work on the world’s problems.

You read in the newspaper or Book Page that your favorite author has a new book out. You check with the library and they can’t order the book…out of money. You should talk to your commissioner and chew him up one side and down the other for approving such senseless dribble.

I have to admit that in the past I have not paid attention to county government, but that will change after this budget fiasco. Is it a rumor that the county paid $40,000 for a study of the drought? Or how much did the Five blow for the LCRA building on FM 1431? They sure have their priorities misplaced.

And now for the good stuff. This past Sunday the Llano library put on an Ice Cream Social and with the piano playing of Duncan Holmes, blind since birth. He played flawlessly for two hours without missing a note. What a great day the Llano library gave the people of Llano.

Paul Paxton

Llano, Texas