The reasons for a new library in Buckingham are many, varied and compelling, but I would like to focus specifically on what our new library can and should mean for the future generations of the citizens of Buckingham.

The notion that tablets, computers, smart phones and the like are a legitimate substitute for public libraries could not be more wrong. The costs associated with Internet use, equipment and monthly fees prohibit a large portion of our citizens from access to such resources. The cost of a new library is a very small fraction of the true cost of providing Internet availability to all our citizens.

Also, the true quality of services and information obtained from a library greatly surpasses the flood of information, misinformation and advertisements, with which we are bombarded, in a typical Internet search. Ask Google a question and you get 100,000 answers. Ask a librarian a question and you get the right answer.

Our new library is an important investment in the future of Buckingham County. The opportunities presented by this new facility include:

Expanded public meeting space

The library is a true community center which provides resources and space for the many and diverse interests of those who make up the Buckingham community.

Such spaces will serve a variety of community organizations and will become an after hours educational center for GED classes and could be made available for the establishment of a satellite campus for Southside Virginia Community College or even Longwood University. College-level courses could be made available to our citizens, right here, in our county.

Support for the children in our schools

Expanded programming for children at all levels will be possible in our new library. Storytime for preschoolers, reading programs for elementary and middle schoolers, and research assistance for our high school students are just some of the opportunities our library offers.

During the academic year and during the summer, all of our children will have a safe, supportive environment to nurture their growth and development. Children, who otherwise would not have access to the many resources offered in the library, will be encouraged to think, learn and choose interests and ideas that will help them on a positive path in their future.

Job search and career planning

Our new library will make available expanded resources and support for those seeking to enter the world of work or make changes or improvements to their career path. Help with career information, job searching and resume writing are all part of the services available to the patrons of our public library.

For the citizens of Buckingham County, these and many other benefits available through the library can make a real difference in the quality and direction of their lives.

When one weighs the cost of our new library against the cost of wasting these potential benefits, one must conclude that Buckingham County not only needs and deserves a new library, we cannot afford to not build it.

John Staton, a Buckingham resident and farmer, formerly served on the county’s board of supervisors. He can be reached at (434) 969-4150.