Walter Cronkite said, “Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation.”

I am writing this letter to express my concerns about the recent decisions of officials who are supposed to be dedicated to the well-being of this community.

I am grateful to the head librarian for his foresight and plan to give the library at least a one-year reprieve, but I am concerned about the long-term.

“What a school (community) thinks about its library is a measure of what it feels about education,” said Harold Howe.

As a retired teacher, I can only think that the supervisors have not had the opportunity to visit our Lakeport or Clearlake library.

At almost any time of day there are patrons of all ages, browsing the shelves, doing research, working on the computers, checking out books, books on CDs and films.

The library also offers talks on a variety of subjects throughout the year, many of them are interactive and well-attended. Story time and activities for children are favorites of young mothers.

Ray Bradbury, a well-known science fiction author, said, “I don't believe in colleges and universities. I believe in libraries because most students don't have any money. When I graduated from high school, it was during the Depression and we had no money. I couldn't go to college, so I went to the library three days a week for 10 years.”

I would ask the Board of Supervisors members to make libraries in Lake County a top priority for the educational health of this and future generations.

Michelle Gonzalez lives in Kelseyville, Calif.