Editor:

I have to admit that I was quite taken aback at Fillmer Hevener’s guest column about funding the building of a new library in Buckingham (“Advising against the library and debt,” Feb. 5). 

We should always be fiscally responsible with taxpayers’ money, but Hevener’s remarks comparing libraries to Edsels or buggies is quite bizarre.

Hevener is making an incorrect assumption that everyone in Buckingham has Blackberries, smartphones, laptops and desktop computers. Over 60 percent of Buckingham’s school age children are on free or reduced lunch, according to The Herald. I would be willing to bet that the majority of those families are not as fortunate as he is to have such items in their homes.

Hevener should ask the literally thousands of patrons who walk into the Buckingham library why they are coming when they can have the same luxury items he obviously has. I would say that Hevener is making the assumption that all of our citizens are as blessed as he is — but I would venture to say that is not the case.

Perhaps Hevener should use his zeal in fighting against libraries to convince Longwood University, Hampden-Sydney College and other institutions of higher learning to also close their libraries, as it would appear that he does not support any type of building that would provide books, research opportunities and a center for learning.

Most of the people I talk to assume the library is going to be built.

It will only be built if citizens contact their representatives and voice their opinions.

Sue Miles

Buckingham