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To the editor:

Your article on the county commissioners’ appointment of a library board trustee was most interesting.  Having been one, I am familiar with the by-laws, policies and procedures. I was nominated when Ruth Hoyle was the director and I waited, with anticipation, to be voted on and appointed by the commissioners at that time.

The county attorney’s recent statement suggests a new precedent can be set; the question becomes why?

If I were to describe my trustee experience under Ruth Hoyle and Jane McAllister, I’d use some words that are included in the North Carolina Public Library By-laws: We were advocates for the library; we were cordial, we were cooperative and we mutually sought to influence the quality of service to the public and see that the library was efficiently run in the best interest of the entire community.

Check the website. Our state by-laws indicate no one individual has the power to make demands and the board must speak with one voice. We did that when we voted unanimously for Jane to follow Ruth. Having worked closely with Jane and knowing her job familiarity, knowledge, proven ability and interest in serving the community, I cannot understand why she wasn’t appointed.

Time after time, the current commissioners have voted to bring new industry to Davie County; with this comes new revenue and new people. The public library plays a significant role in the quality of life for new as well as old patrons. The Davie County Public Library – staff and trustee s- is in accord with the mission and goals of The American Library Association and the stated code of ethics. Other important tenets are the Library Bill of Rights and patrons’ constitutional rights.

At our library, our new citizens will find the same national standards and competence here and that this portion of their tax dollars is being spent well.

Let them also find transparency on the part of those who control the purse strings.

Alice Garrett Brown, Mocksville