Why Conservatives Should Support the EBR Library Tax Renewal

I'm conservative, and typically I hate taxes. But one of the GREAT things that taxes provide are public libraries. That's why I'm voting YES on the East Baton Rouge Parish Library tax renewal.

East Baton Rouge Parish has one of the best library systems in the state. Our local libraries not only provide free books for use, but also free movies, CDs, art and databases.

Want to research your family genealogy? EBRPL can help. Want to start a business? EBRPL can help. Want to have fun with your child? EBRPL can help. Want to practice the ACT and get into college? EBRPL can help.

But perhaps the most important reason we should support our libraries is that EBRPL provides free Internet access to anyone. In 2015, especially in middle- to upper-class families, we believe that everyone has Internet access, and that everyone has a computer in their home. This just isn't true. According to the 2013 U.S. Census, 16.2 percent of households do not have a computer, and 25.6 percent of households do not have Internet access. In Louisiana, those numbers are statistically higher than the national average. Many teachers put homework online, so children without computers can go to their local library to do their homework. Many employers communicate via email, so employees can check their email at their local library. Many jobs can only be applied online now, so the unemployed can go to their local library to apply to jobs.

If we conservatives want people to better themselves, to climb the socioeconomic ladder, to have the "American dream," we must support our libraries. People can teach themselves about any topic in a library. And if they can't find that information, their librarian will find it for them.

Libraries do not discriminate. It doesn't matter if you own property, or rent an apartment. It doesn't matter if you work two jobs, or stay at home with the kids. It doesn't matter if you bring home six figures, or struggle to keep a job. It doesn't matter if you are black, or white. It doesn't matter if you went to college, or didn't graduate high school. It doesn't matter if you are retired, or in kindergarten. All you need to get a library card is to live within the parish.

On Oct. 24, please vote YES on the EBRPL tax renewal. For more information about the details of the millage, EBRPL has provided a fact sheet with frequently-asked questions.

Photo via Mark Bienvenu (http://www.msbphoto.com/blog/2014/2/east-baton-rouge-parish-main-library)

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