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November 11th we will observe Veterans Day, which was originally called Armistice Day to mark the end of World War I. Unfortunately, we’ve had too many wars since then, so the day had to be renamed.
Read moreOctober 21, 2022 Dear Editor, The letter to the editor in this paper’s October 19th edition did not share the complete numbers that make up the historical cost of library service in Coal County for the past ten years. It excludes Coal County’s portion of shared and administrative costs. All seven of Southeast Oklahoma Library System’s member counties contribute proportionately to these expenses.
Read moreIn recent decades a popular concept has emerged within the fields of civil engineering and sociology: the concept of “third places.” Home is what we call the “first place.” Work is the “second place.” “Third places” comprise the other important spaces within our communities. Places we meet, participate in activities, complete personal tasks, etc. These places are uniquely identified by their ability to create equity and interaction among all of us. Among the many types of “third places” in a community there is one that stands out as uniquely valuable: the library. Tantamount to sacred spaces in a functioning democracy, libraries fill some of the most important roles in any community. A safe, moderated, and reliable gathering place for young people. A house of learning for those of all ages. An administrative hub that provides important utility value to those that need a variety of tasks completed like copying and printing. Internet access for those that cannot afford it or who live throughout the county in the many areas where internet access is unavailable. To lose or diminish our library and what it provides to our community would be a catastrophic loss. Both the tangible and intangible value of one of our few significant “third spaces” cannot be understated.
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Recently, a widow phoned her local newspaper and asked how much they charged for running obituaries. “A dollar and inch,” she was told.
Read moreDear Editor, In his letter to the editor on October 5 regarding the library, Commissioner Nick Lee raised two points that deserve a response. The first is why the library system doesn’t pay for the utilities at the Coalgate library. The Southeast Oklahoma Library System (SEOLS), like all other multi-county library systems in Oklahoma, depends on local entities, usually the building’s owner, to pay for building maintenance and utilities. That was the condition by which each of our 16 member libraries were accepted into the library system. In return, SEOLS provides all of the staffing, materials, furniture, equipment, programs and expertise required to operate the library.
Read moreDear Editor, I am a charter member of the Coal County Genealogy Society.
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