Marion book delivery an investment in rural America
Daily Inter Lake | Daily Inter-Lake | UPDATED 3 weeks, 1 day AGO
Flathead County Library is turning the page on its book delivery program to Marion School. The service, which connected residents of the rural community to the county library system, officially goes dark July 1.
A cost analysis prompted the abrupt decision. According to library staff, the delivery program’s use did not justify the expense. Ending the 40-mile round-trip route could save the library about $2,400 annually.
Marion School officials who help facilitate the program said they were blindsided by the decision and were never notified by the library board that terminating the service was under consideration.
“This topic was reportedly discussed over the course of several months, yet the Marion community — whose residents are taxpayers contributing to the library system — was not included in those discussions,” Marion Superintendent Julia Maxwell said.
The district is now looking to prop up the book service through a volunteer program. Kudos to school leadership for recognizing the importance of keeping Marion residents connected to the library system, particularly seniors who are unable to make the difficult trek into Kalispell.
“For some of our families, this service represents their only realistic connection to the county library system,” Maxwell added.
Many public services in rural communities don’t add up when viewed strictly through cost‑benefit analysis. But government agencies rightly provide them anyway. Would we expect a county road department to plow only the routes that serve enough homes? Of course not. Fair access to public services is a shared value in rural America.
The library board certainly has to make tough budget choices, but it should have extended an invitation to the school to consider alternatives before axing the route. Perhaps a courier already running between Kalispell and Libby could help reduce costs.
The board also has not shared how it intends to use the $2,500 in savings. Will it be used to fund a more important library program?
Taxpayers in Marion sure would like to know.