A strong public library is an important asset to a community. The Heart of America Library in Rugby has been just that for many years. Our library has evolved from a library that just checked out books to people in our community to a library that provides many reading options; large print books, magazines, audio books and e-books. Computers, wireless internet access, fax machine, printers and a copy machine are available for public use. I have used them all when mine aren’t working at home. The library hosts Story Hour for preschool children during the school year and the Summer Reading Program for school age children in the summer. With the addition of the elevator to the library building, many other groups have been able to use the meeting areas in the lower level of the library.

I had the opportunity to serve on the Library Board and also nine months as an employee. Often people visiting the community would stop in to visit or use the technology and tell us that Rugby’s library was very impressive for a town our size.

The library receives 4 mills by law but has been operating on the dollars equivalent to 7 mills provided by the City of Rugby for the past nine years. A YES vote for Measure 3 on the June ballot will not increase the funding to the Heart of America Library, but maintain current funding equal to 7 mills for all the programs and materials that the library provides. A NO vote would cut funding to the library.

The Heart of America Library has had great leadership from many community members who volunteered time to the Library Board as well as strong employees that have worked hard to bring our library to this level. The current library board and staff want to continue to provide all of these services and materials for Rugby and the surrounding rural residents. As a community we need to continue supporting the Heart of America Library. Please vote YES on Measure 3 in June.

Theone Stevenson

Rugby