Saturday, June 13, 1998

Slow-motion library

As the Internet and its worldwide outreach continue to expand, the Abilene Public Library sits it out on the sidelines. Perhaps the clay tablet and feather pen come next?

Graphical Internet access is available at most medium-to-large city libraries throughout the country. Customers at those libraries are able to easily access a literal world of information and resources; however, frustrated Abilene customers are forced to use an archaic, limited, text-only Internet process that Julius Caesar probably used.

So, library officials, what's the deal? Is City Hall dragging things down again? Or are you fearful that someone may actually "enjoy" a graphic version of the Internet?

In any case, since the hardware is available (at the annex location), the browser software is free and the connection is in place, what's the holdup? We can hardly wait to hear the answer.

ERNEST WIATREK

Abilene

Via e-mail

Nursing home theft

Almost daily I visit my mother at the Abilene nursing home where she is a resident. Sears is deservingly known for its care, cleanliness and genuine concern for its residents.

It is very sad that she is bedridden, but her lovely Christian spirit accepts that. The upsetting thing is that her things disappear. Unlike another nursing home, where gowns, pillows and even a comforter were lost, the things that are gone now are small -- the pretty frame that held the picture of a special great-grandchild, the nice body lotion that was a granddaughter's Mother's Day gift, her nail polish. It is an every-visit ritual to find out what the latest missing thing will be.

When missing articles are reported, the standard reply is, "That was probably used on someone else," or "That was probably put in the wrong room." The best one is, "That had to have happened on a different shift." The attitude seems to be, "This is a nursing home. These things happen."

Is this acceptable and inevitable? I don't think so!

These possessions represent our tokens of love to her. In her situation, they are the only gifts we can give her. I realize they are only small, material things, but they are all she has.

RITA RASCO

Abilene

Scandal of E-rate

Taxation without representation -- a concept that was supposed to have died with the birth of America. Yet it is alive and well today. Its modern manifestation is the E-rate program.

The E-rate program is designed to allow schools and libraries to connect to the Internet at discounted rates. The 1996 Telecommunications Act created special provisions in the Universal Service Fund for education. The Universal Service Fund was originally created to extend reasonably priced telephone services to rural areas. Customers of the telecommunications companies pay for this service. This appears on your Southwestern Bell phone bill as other taxes.

The education provisions require telecommunications companies to deposit additional revenues into this fund for the E-rate program. These additional costs will also be passed down to the customer. The current cost of the E-rate program is $2.25 billion a year.

The big question is, who controls how much in additional taxes will be paid into the E-rate program? Most people would think it's Congress. It's not!

It's the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC calculates the cost and levies the tax. Unelected officials taxing the American people. What a dangerous precedent to set. True taxation without representation.

PAUL HORST

Abilene

Via e-mail