We have said it before: The public libraries are the best deal in town. Amagansett residents will be asked May 21 if they approve or disapprove of the institution’s spending plan. If the voters say yes, then property taxes rise modestly. About $70,000 more would be needed to fund its 2025 budget, adding just pocket change to individual tax bills.
Montauk residents already voted “yes” on the hamlet’s 2024-25 spending plan. The East Hampton Library’s budget for 2024 was approved in the fall.
What the community gets for the money it spends on libraries is impressive indeed.
In the digital age, libraries have become so much more than a place to find books and magazines. On any given day, one might see patrons using public computers or hidden away in a quiet nook studying for an exam. Printers and copy machines are available — along with staff to help us figure out how to use them. They can be a home away from home, a welcome diversion for people living alone. There are classes and lectures. Spaces set aside for children give parents and caregivers a place to go when the littles need diversion. There are seed “libraries” for gardeners. And several libraries now even have coffee and other hot drinks available, adding to the welcoming feeling. Hospitality, rather than a sharp, “shh!” is the mood now. Where small tax increases are sought, voters should readily give their assent. What they get in return is a lot more than they spend.