Are we able to afford the proposed new library at this time? The people of Campbell County are facing the same economic situation as other local governments.

Associated Press business writer Daniel Wagner reports: "More than half of U.S. cities have cut staff, canceled construction projects or raised fees this year, according to a report from the National League of Cities that catalogs the vast damage from shrunken property -- and income-tax revenue.

"Cities are struggling from the same problems that have left the national economy sputtering: high unemployment, a depressed housing market and weak consumer spending. Those factors have reduced the taxes that cities collect for a fifth straight year. Many have had to make up the gap by laying off employees, freezing pay, cutting services, raising fees or suspending building projects.

"Two-thirds of city finance officers said they had delayed or canceled public-works projects this year. Two in five reported raising fees for city services. One in five had cut spending on public safety. Nearly one in three had laid off staffers." Christopher Hoene of the National League of Cities notes: "The hardest-hit cities have been those that depend most on income from property taxes.

Michael Pagano, dean of the College of Urban Planning at the University of Illinois and Chicago, who says; "We're looking at at least another two or three years of very troubling fiscal signals for cities and municipalities."

Here is a comment from a library employee.Spencer Smith . Works at Fort Worth Library.

"THE LIBRARIES ARE NOT FREE FOR ALL. They are free for some and paid for by others who never use them. We sell them as being free for all- but only because patrons rarely understand that they've already paid for them. Those that do, of course, are the exceptions that we remember. THIS is what is going to be driving the change of the library. When the funding portion of society decides what value of the library, the library and nonfunding portion of society will be forced to agree."

Proposed New Campbell County Library There is a new library being proposed in southern Campbell County(CC). The Campbell County Library Board is holding several meetings to determine public opinion, to get feedback and answer questions from the community about the proposed new South Branch. Better come and speak up at the remaining meetings.

7 pm Tuesday, Oct. 4, Alexandria Community Building, 8236 West Main St., Alexandria 7 pm Wednesday, Oct 5, Newport Branch, Campbell County Public Library, 901 East 6th St., Newport.