Published: August 27, 2009 11:08 pm      

Letters - Friday, Aug. 28, 2009

Library needs to look at services

Okay I have a real problem with the Public Library. I do not understand how they have the money for a new library. The reason I say this is because now there is a charge of 50 cents to rent videos and CDs and also to renew them. There are some people that do not have this and this is why the come to the library. Also, Charles Joray, the library director, makes $100,000 a year and yet they cut out the custodians.

They cut their hours horribly. These hours really don’t work well for student that have school and don’t get done until 8 p.m. and then the library is closed. My other complaint is that now there is a 50-cent fine to send you a letter and tell you a book is in or a book is late.

Also, don’t have a book more than a couple of days late or they will charge you for a new book. Also, the fine for a late fee is now 20 cents per item per day. I guess I think that if they want to build a new library that’s fine, but first:

1. Rehire the custodians

2. Cut Joray’s salary

3. Have old hours

4. Have no fines to rent CDs or DVDs

5. Don’t have a fine to send notices to patrons

Thank you very much and have a great day. I say if Joray’s salary is cut, the library wouldn’t have to have as many fines and bad hour. Also, if his salary is cut maybe they can rehire the custodians. Also, let’s not spend money on a new library unless they can resolve fines and hours. I thought the library was supported by tax dollars, so they shouldn’t have all these fines and these services should be free and hours should be better.

Thanks again.

Jenny Tudor

Support group helped local family

I am a parent of a child who was diagnosed with Schizophrenia four years ago. The shock of such a diagnosis was extreme as I am sure any parent would imagine. The emotions one experiences with such a diagnosis in a loved one is equivalent to a wild roller coaster ride — and I may add that it is one ride I did not intentionally seek out to experience.

Our son is doing very well on medication and, with the aid of a group by the name of NAMI (the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill), my husband and I, too, have moved past the shock and bewilderment into a phase of acceptance and advocacy.

I must thank and credit our doctor for informing us about NAMI. NAMI has provided us with a local support group as well as education classes, which have aided us tremendously in getting the proper care for our son. We were so thrilled to have a place to voice our concerns and worries as well as to learn more about advocacy for those who suffer from mental illnesses that we ourselves enrolled in a class to learn how to teach others as we were educated. Education is empowerment!

We will offer a NAMI Family to Family education class that is free of charge. The class is for those who have a relative with a mental illness. This class was so beneficial in helping my husband and I deal with our son’s illness that we wanted to reach out to others who, like us, were confused, angry and saddened by such a diagnosis. Life is full of surprises, but with support and knowledge, we can better handle those surprises.

Let us help you come to grips with your loved one’s diagnosis of a mental illness. Our classes will start Sept. 2, and will be held 7 to 9 p.m. every Wednesday until Nov. 18. The class will be held at the Morning Star Church in Kokomo.

Please come. Our deepest desire is to educate you, empower you and aid you in getting the help you and your loved one needs to thrive despite the diagnosis. If you are interested, call Julie at (765) 438-4031 to get enrolled.

Julie Mohr