As a dedicated Rotarian and a retired community member, I feel strongly about expressing my support for the Dormann Library and the important role it continues to play in Bath, New York.
These are not easy times for anyone. Families are watching every dollar, local organizations are stretched thin, and communities like ours continue to face economic and social challenges that have built up over many years. We have seen opportunities decline, young people leave in search of better prospects, and too many residents struggle with isolation, hardship, and uncertainty about the future. In times like these, institutions that continue to educate, encourage, and unite people become more valuable than ever.
The Dormann Library represents many of the same principles that organizations like Rotary have long stood for: service above self, investment in people, strengthening community ties, and improving lives through education and opportunity. The library provides access to books, technology, local history, children’s programming, educational resources, and a welcoming public space where every resident is treated with dignity and respect.
What has impressed me most over the past several years is the clear effort the library has made to grow and improve despite the challenges facing our community. I have seen meaningful strides in the quality of services, programs, collections, partnerships, and resources being offered to the public. The library has worked hard to modernize, expand opportunities for residents of all ages, and become an even stronger asset to the community. That kind of progress does not happen by accident. It takes leadership, dedication, responsible stewardship, and a genuine commitment to serving the public. In my opinion, the people involved with the library have shown all of those qualities.
What makes the library especially important is that the value it returns to the community goes far beyond dollars and cents. A child discovering a love of reading, a senior citizen learning to use new technology, a family accessing information they otherwise could not afford, or a young person finding a safe and constructive place to spend time — these are benefits that ripple outward through the entire town.
In many ways, the library helps fill gaps that would otherwise place even greater burdens on families, schools, and the community as a whole. It provides opportunities that many residents may not have access to elsewhere and helps maintain a sense of connection and stability during difficult times.
I would hate to see the progress that has been made over recent years begin to disappear or move backward. Communities like ours cannot afford to lose institutions that are actively trying to improve quality of life and create opportunities for people.
I have always believed that the true measure of a community is not found in what it spends, but in what it chooses to preserve and strengthen for future generations. The Dormann Library continues to be a rare community center in our town dedicated entirely to learning, growth, civility, and public good. For those reasons, I believe it deserves the continued support and appreciation of the people it serves. I will be voting to support the library budget on June 2nd and I ask that my friends, neighbors, and community come out to cast their votes as well.
-Mike Slovak