Editorial: A new library will show commitment to education

A few short years ago, Houston County voters had an opportunity to ease the burden of chronically underfunded public schools with a small increase in property tax millage.

That referendum was defeated by more than 80 percent of the vote. The people’s voice was loud, and what it said was that education has little value.

What else might it have said? That people were sick to death of taxes? Perhaps that’s the answer, but property taxes here are among the lowest in the nation; surely we can spare a bit more for the schools.

It was an alarming revelation, and a mindset that needs to be addressed.

Perhaps the best way to convince the public that education is important is to have our community leaders raise the standard.

Investing in the improvement of the public library would make significant progress toward that goal.

For more than two years, the library board and city and county officials have been weighing options for a new library, including new construction on a different site and exploring vacant properties that might be suitable.

Recently, a committee assembled to explore possibilities for a new library unveiled a concept that would improve the Houston-Love Memorial Library while maintaining its presence in the center of town.

Preliminary plans include the purchase of property between the existing library and North Oates Street, constructing a new wing that would face Oates, then updating and renovating the existing building.

The first step is acquisition of the land, and we urge city commissioners to approve this purchase as a show of commitment to the library project and the value of education in our community. We also urge city and county officials to commit to funding the project as they would any public building — with public funds.

We hope the impetus of this project continues with future plans for branch facilities in growing parts of the city.

A community that values its libraries values the education of its young, and the continuing education of all its residents.