A nervous but steadfast ten-year-old by the name of October Hamilton approached Carbon County Commissioners during Wednesday evening’s regularly scheduled meeting for a very special reason. Hamilton has been working hard lately to get a petition signed in regards to keeping the Bookmobile in the local area.
Hamilton has been a resident of East Carbon for nearly one and a half years and will be attending Bruin Point Elementary for her fifth grade year in the fall. To collect signatures, Hamilton traversed throughout East Carbon, Wellington and Price. She produced two different stacks of signatures to the commissioners, one with 506 signatures and another with 486.
Hamilton was given a standing ovation by the audience for working so tirelessly toward something that meant so much to her. She informed the commissioners that she truly believed that the Bookmobile is something that the community needs.
“My brother is autistic and the only reason he reads is because of the Bookmobile,” she stated.
She further explained that when her brother is taken to a library, he runs around and does not care much about the books. In the Bookmobile, he can focus on the reading. Commissioner Casey Hopes thanked Hamilton for participating in the political process and taking time out of her summer to do so.
Commissioner Jae Potter then took some time to explain to the listening audience exactly what is put into the budget each year, where the funds go and what facilities and accommodations the county is receiving that is coming from grants and other entities. Potter explained that, since January, a number of public hearings have taken place regarding the county’s budget.
Britton Lund with the Utah Chapter of the Bookmobile then spoke with the commissioners. She pointed out that, although most Bookmobiles feel the sting during a recession, that has never happened in Carbon County. Lund gave options to the commissioners for a smaller budget such as reducing the days that the Bookmobile goes out, purchasing fewer books and lowering the hours of the librarian.
“While the Bookmobile doesn’t supply money, it does improve lives,” Lund said.
The mayors from East Carbon, Helper, Wellington and Price were all then asked to give their statement on the issue. First to speak was East Carbon City Mayor Doug Parsons. He stated that with East Carbon being so far out from the other cities, they provide a lot of systems that is a part of the county due to distance, such as the ambulance system. However, East Carbon continues to pay taxes into the county system.
With that in mind, Parsons then stated that he believes that the Bookmobile is a necessity and the continuation is prudent. Helper City Mayor Ed Chavez then spoke, stating that when a little girl is in need of the Bookmobile, we should all open our eyes.
“We are taking programs away from the kids and we’re not helping them,” Chavez stated.
Chavez continued by pointing out that the students at the Castle Valley Center do not have their own library and thoroughly enjoy the Bookmobile. Helper City also teamed up with the Bookmobile not long ago and provides use of the library for the Bookmobile.
Wellington CIty Mayor Joan Powell then spoke, stating that she has more personal ideals and memories with the Bookmobile rather than numbers to crunch.
“I don’t know if you can put a price on a child’s imagination or what they learn,” Powell stated.
She went on to state that she was impressed with Hamilton’s courage. Powell also informed commissioners that she would work to get numbers for them if they deemed it necessary.
Price City Mayor Joe Piccolo spoke with the commissioners and crowd, stating that obviously the Bookmobile is not as detrimental in Price City. However, the Bookmobile does, Piccolo explained, do something that the public library does not: it reaches out. He also pointed out that literacy is very important in the role of reducing poverty.
“Literacy is truly the answer to a healthy community,” Piccolo stated.
Lund then spoke again briefly, taking time to ask those that support the Bookmobile remaining in Carbon County to please stand. More than half of the room then stood. A final decision was not made during the commission meeting, but all were urged to continue to work forward on their individual efforts.