Timberland Regional Library messing up in Montesano

When I was growing up in the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s, our mom went to town once a month to shop unless dad needed a part. We lived 12 miles then 14 1/2 miles up the Wynooche Valley on dairy farms.

Two of my special memories are the Montesano Bookmobile stopping at rural homes as did the Esses berry shed truck to pick up blackberries picked by residents (they paid in silver dollars and smaller coins).

I’ve enjoyed the school and public libraries all my life. I’m 78 now, still living on the farm and still loving my visits to our Timberland Regional Library that is until last week.

I walked into our Montesano branch Tuesday, Sept. 3, to be greeted by two smiling strangers instead of the former staff I so deeply appreciated and loved. I asked if they were on vacation. No one would tell my anything. I spent two days making calls by landline as I don’t have cell, internet or TV by choice.

I was shocked to learn most of the former employees have resigned. I have received no return calls from two different departments of the Timberland Regional Library Tumwater main office.

I have been informed that the main Timberland Regional Library office in Tumwater has plans for our libraries:

1. Getting rid of local history and the safely stored Montesano Vidette newspaper collection that dates back to the first issue, February, 1883. I know for a fact that college, high school and elementary students do local historical research there as well as at the Montesano Chehalis Valley Museum where I volunteer.

2. Large playground equipment with a slide and 60-inch peak has been installed in the Westport Timberland Regional Library which takes up a lot of space. And what about the noise? And respect for other patrons? If a child is injured, what is the cost of liability insurance? I was told the purchase price of the big toy slide inside the Westport library was $1,500. I don’t know if installation was included. I do know that cost would have bought a lot of children’s books.

Young children in libraries need to learn from adults about borrowing, returning and the care of books.

Choosing books to borrow, story hours, projects and interaction with other children have been very popular with young patrons at the Montesano library.

Older students there have been involved in a book club. Big play toys should be reserved for parks and outdoor playgrounds, not inside libraries.

The libraries and museums I have visited throughout my life have been unique in their own style of local history, traditions, murals, educational classes, art and collections from local citizens.

Who, I ask, would even want those institution to lose their uniqueness? They would become like big city housing associations (only four shades of outdoor brown or tray paint allowed). How boring.

Is this what we want for our libraries? Elimination of well-kept treasures? We are a small town.

Walking into the Montesano library Sept. 3 and not seeing any regular employees, then to find out they had resigned has been heartbreaking to me. I can assure you, many other people feel the same sadness.

To the Timberland Regional Library Board of Trustees, please, as a resident of Grays Harbor County and Wynooche Valley since 1948, I ask that each Timberland Regional Library, including employees, volunteers and support people be left alone to continue to do the excellent jobs they have been doing.

I feel they have not been appreciated enough.

Pat (Zeigler) Bossard

Montesano High School Class of 1964

Wynooche Valley