$1,000 offered for drop-off box

For the last two winters I have both observed and experienced the extreme difficulty in returning books to our Boundary County Library.  The problem that exists during the harsh winter weather is the ice packed area, which presents a major hazard to all senior citizens that try to retain their footing while going from their parked vehicle to the opposite side of the library, up the steep ramp with their arms filled with books to return that must be deposited in the book drop by the main entrance door.

I have made an on-going futile attempt to attain support to have an outside book drop located in the library parking area that would afford the senior citizen and others to deposit their returned books without facing the existing hazards of possible severe injury by being able to remain in their vehicle by using the drive-up drop.

The existing location of the book return book drop at the main library door presents a second potential hazard, in that it does require any mother with children in their vehicle to make the choice of removing them from their car seats and taking them with her arm around them to the opposite side of the library to the existing book drop, or to leave the children in the vehicle for the short time, which can be several minutes, that would be required for her to walk from the parking area around the opposite side of the library, up the ramp, deposit the books and return to her vehicle. During this time period, the mother would be totally out of sight of her vehicle and the children most of the time.

The time required for the mother to deposit her books at the existing drop would be adequate time for any child pedophile that may be watching to snatch a child from the vehicle while the mother is totally out of sight on the other side of the library.  With the existing alley extending from the library parking area between buildings to a major street and no library windows overlooking the parking area, the chance of any  predator being observed would be very remote.

As I previously stated, I have contacted many local persons that have some direct affiliation with the library operation and support, but always have received the same imput that the money required to fund the project if purchasing the required equipment $3,000 to $5,000 and the cost of the installing it is just not available.  I was advised that the library currently has a shortfall of operating expense, which was pointed out to me in detail during a recent meeting with the library board of trustees.  All library members agreed that a drive-up book drop was needed and that it had been discussed during prior meetings as to the best location in which to locate the outside book drop in the parking area.

As a friend of the library, I have made a pledge to provide a matching amount of money up to $1,000 to have the required equipment for the outside book drop purchased and installed.  I now encourage all persons in Boundary County to become friends of the library and support this project to provide a great degree of safety for both our senior citizens and children who benefit so much from the use of our library.  If you are a patron of the library, please remember to drop off a small donation to Sandy at the desk before you leave, or if you wish, mail in your support to:

Boundary County Library

Attn.: Outside Book Drop Fund

6370 Kootenai St.

P.O. Box Y

Bonners Ferry, ID 83805

Thank you very much and please become a friend of the library.