West Long Branch voters, on Nov. 3, please vote "no" on the public question. That question posted on the ballot reads "Shall the Borough of West Long Branch dissolve the West Long Branch Free Public Library and change its current status from Member of the Monmouth County Library System to Branch of the Monmouth County System." In their effort to "save" money for the taxpayers, the mayor and council ask that our citizens give an affirmative vote on this public question. This "saving" is approximately $167 each year or $.44 daily per household. This amount will not translate into a reduction on your tax bill but will be absorbed into the local treasury to offset shortfalls/other applications.

The passage of this question means that the county will literally take over our library lock, stock and barrel. We lose local control of our library (home rule) with vital decisions being made by a central system of the county. It means that the hours of library operation will change from four nights a week to two with closure on Friday mornings along with a change in staffing. I urge all our locals to visit our library before Election Day. You will see the transformation from the one-room library shared with the local post office in a building on Monmouth Road, to an approximate 4,800- square-foot beautiful edifice that still maintains the charm that only old buildings have. Meet our personnel, sign up for a library card, use our up-to-date computers, borrow a DVD from our large collection and yes, sign out a good book to read.

Please support us. Vote "no." The West Long Branch Free Municipal Library is worth preserving.
Marie Sorrentino
Member
West Long Branch Public
Library board of trustees