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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, January 24, 1992                   TAG: 9201280038
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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LIBRARY-AID CUTS STRIKE BLOW AT EDUCATION

WHAT IS A library without new and current books? An unused library. Since Gov. Wilder's budget for 1992 has reduced our state aid 50 percent, the purchase of new books, reference materials, magazines and videos by Botetourt County Library will be drastically reduced.

Approximately 75 percent of all the Botetourt County books, magazines, newspapers, videos and books on tape that you and your family use were purchased with state aid. By reducing that aid, our government will set the library system back 10 to 15 years.

As a supplement to our public-education system, we try to keep up with current references, magazines and newspapers. With the reduction in state aid, these articles will be drastically reduced. By cutting aid to libraries, the state government is also indirectly cutting aid to public education.

Our current-fiction and best-sellers readers will also take a tremendous cut. No more than one copy of any book will be purchased, causing long waits on best sellers.

People of Botetourt County must inform their state senator or delegates that they favor funding state aid to public libraries. Please write or call immediately, because the vote on the budget will be coming up soon. PAIGE W. WARE Fincastle Branch Librarian Botetourt County Library FINCASTLE

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