I am reprinting the letter I sent to the Daily Chronicle, word-for-word, copied and pasted from the e-mail message:

“Editor,

The controversy over the Open Meetings Act regarding the DeKalb Public Library’s possible purchase of the vacant DeKalb Clinic property provides an excellent opportunity for local government to set things right for the people of DeKalb.

I think libraries are great. In the late 1990s, I traveled to Russia for research during a period of extreme economic stress. Libraries and archives cut back on spending so severely that even Moscow’s main library (their equivalent of the Library of Congress) could not afford to turn on the lights during the daytime and operated late into November with no heat. Yet, people went to the library and the staff did not give up and close the doors. After seeing first-hand how important the people of Russia’s fledgling democracy considered their libraries, I made a career change, began working in a library, and earned a degree in library science by commuting from DeKalb to Urbana for classes. I believe I am qualified to form a unique perspective about the importance of libraries.

Currently, any possible purchase of the DeKalb Clinic by the DeKalb Public Library would be under unclear and very questionable circumstances. Of all the local government bodies, many people generally have higher expectations for a public library, in that it should be scandal-free and have trustworthy people leading it. The DeKalb Public Library served generations of DeKalb residents faithfully, built upon the trust of Jacob Haish’s generous donation. The faith and trust that previous generations of DeKalb residents enjoyed toward the library should remain without taint for current and future generations. The library can regain faith and trust, however. I call upon the leaders of the DeKalb Public Library to press the reboot buttons (ctrl-alt-del) on the DeKalb Clinic purchase; make a convincing case to the people of DeKalb that building a new library is necessary; and take the proposal of a new library to a referendum, up front, openly, and truthfully. A good-faith referendum would reveal if the people of DeKalb truly support a new library. Library leaders should also explain how a new library became a priority over improving police facilities and explain clearly how the city can afford it, despite the recent and sad layoffs of city employees. The legacy of Jacob Haish’s generosity toward the people of DeKalb deserves all of that. Anything worth doing . . . is worth doing right.

Kay Shelton”

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