We believe the Arlington community needs to vote Yes in May to support the construction of a new library. Arlington has grown a lot since the existing library was built and it is too small to offer all the services required by the volume of children, students, adults and seniors who access the library.

Because there are more households to share the cost to build the library, families are getting a really good deal. We urge people to keep the additional $42 of annual property tax (based on a $300,000 home valuation) in perspective; $42 equals $3.50 per month.

Our monthly budget can absorb $3.50 in several ways — many of them healthy when we consider skipping one dessert, one stop at our favorite coffee stand or exchanging one movie night for a family game night. We won’t feel deprived when we consider the new library’s added value to this wonderful community.

Please think about how many resources a library provides its customers: books, music, movies, magazines and newspapers, special events, helpful staff, the list can go on. As a community that cares about each person’s needs, we have an opportunity to help someone use the library to find a job, complete their homework, keep their mind alive or inspire toddlers and pre-school children to love reading because of story-time hour.

To us, approving a new library is similar to supporting the hospital improvements in Arlington. We may not plan to use the hospital, yet we know it will benefit many of our fellow community members. We believe it’s the right choice to make because it’s the right thing to do.

Bob and Wendy McClure