Goldendale Sentinel Editorial

Art always get the ax...
A Goldendale Sentinel Editorial

     The Goldendale Library circulated about 75,000 items to area residents last year. If each is averaged at $15 a piece, that means the citizens of Goldendale received about $1.2 million in educational materials, according to librarian Naomi Fisher. These include books, magazines, DVDs, videos and CDs.
     Aside from the obvious economic benefit of all that saved money (which is now moving through retailers and local businesses), think of the enormous enrichment. We’ve got a million dollars worth of smarter, wiser and more educated citizens.
     What a shame, then, that due to recent budget cuts we may not see a repeat this year.
     The facility has been forced to move from six to five days a week and significant staffing hours have been cut. Special programs will be put aside and thoughts of expansion placed on the back burner.      All of this will put a serious dent in the number of hours citizens can spend reading, writing, and perusing the shelves.
     It seems whenever budgets are tight, arts and leisure are the first to go.
     (You will notice the front page story on Brooks Memorial State Park.)
     Times are tough and when entertainment and recreational activities are stacked up against things like health care and public safety, it is hard to make a solid argument. Yet one must nevertheless wonder if they aren’t a little more connected than we think.
     Music, art, literature, film, outdoor recreation, and the environment are all part of what keeps members of society in good health and away from threatening public safety.
     So what can we do?
     We are in a dire recession and it’s only getting worse. We can’t pretend difficult choices don’t have to be made. Many times, it will be the arts and letters that have to go.
     But let’s not always assume that. Let’s evaluate each program for what it is and then decide.
It is the only informed way to make a decision.