Protect funding for Indian Valley Public Library

We would like to thank the sponsors and attendees of our annual Dinner in White to benefit the Indian Valley Public Library (IVPL). Over 200 members of our community gathered to dine and dance in Souderton Community Park on Saturday, Aug. 19.

The IVPL is a vibrant hub for community engagement offering a diverse range of free programs and events for both children and adults, including:

• Sept. 22: Red Cross Blood Drive

• Sept. 23: Truck-A-Palooza

• Sept, 25: Homeschool Art Showcase Meet the Artist

September was Library Card Sign-up month, and we encouraged anyone who does not have a library card to visit the IVPL to get one.

Recent claims against the IVPL allege that it provides inappropriate material to children. In actuality, the IVPL looks out for our children by shelving materials deemed sensitive away from the children’s section and by upholding the Unattended Minor Policy.

The IVPL provides parents and guardians safeguards to monitor and control their children’s use of library resources, ensuring a personalized and secure experience.

We urge our fellow community members to become aware of the positions of the people running for our local elections this November and to let your current municipal leaders know that you support full funding of the IVPL.

Cutting the library budget would result in the loss of essential services for our community: reduced access to the internet for those who cannot afford it and limited support for seniors and technology novices. Furthermore, job seekers would lose a valuable resource and home-school and charter school families would lose access to necessary educational materials.

Indeed, we would all lose as property values trend higher in communities with strong public libraries.

Learn more at ivpl.org.

William G. (Bud) Leister Jr. is chairman of the Foundation of Friends of the Indian Valley Public Library, which works to strengthen financial support for the library.

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