Resident: Support the Tolland Public Library Proposed Expansion Plan

Linda Byam is a 20-year resident, community volunteer and parent in Tolland, and is urging residents and the Town Council to support the proposed Tolland Public Library expansion plan.

Byam says that one of the fundamental purposes of a library is to be a free place where people can access and share information. There has been an information explosion with the quantity of data and new products available, both digital and print.

She adds that libraries are evolving from book warehouses to community and cultural centers where patrons can collaborate on projects, seek professional assistance to navigate information overload, participate in community programs and use technology for job seeking, reference and entertainment.

Byam, who is president of the Tolland Public Library Foundation board of directors but wrote this letter as a private citizen, urges residents to speak out in favor of the project at Tuesday's Town Council meeting.

To read the full letter, check out the post on the Speak Out Board on Tolland Patch.