Letters submitted by BDN readers are verified by BDN Opinion Page staff. Send your letters to letters@bangordailynews.com
What is the problem that the state library system is trying to solve with new rules?
Skills and best practices: Are the small libraries mistreating materials borrowed by inter-library loan? Are they abusing the state system? Are mistakes being made in use of the state system that means that it takes time and resources from the state system to square these away? Can problems be demonstrated? Is there evidence? If those are the problems, could training, perhaps county based, conducted using the help and resources of larger libraries help?
Cost control: Is the state trying to reduce the number of libraries in the system to control costs of keeping the inter-library loan system running, specifically the cost of moving books about the state? If so, state that honestly and then work towards a system of reducing costs by things like consolidation. For example, could a request for inter-library loan come from a small library, with the item being delivered to a larger library near the small one.
Be honest about the problem. There could and should be solutions that would preserve the access that many Mainers rely on.
Ben Fuller
Cushing