It’s been a challenging but rewarding past year for using library services in this pandemic. Pittston residents are fortunate to have the Gardiner Public Library and its many resources available for everyone in town, from students to seniors.

In fact, it’s times like these that the library is needed more than ever, so I invite all Pittston residents to join me in supporting Pittston’s continued participation in the library. Please vote for the library as part of the Pittston budget referendum from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 20, at the Pittston Town Office. Absentee voting is available and under way.

The Gardiner Public Library currently provides for the pickup of all library items, including items ordered through interlibrary loan, via its pickup window Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5:25 p.m., with returns accepted during those same hours. The library staff is making sure everyone in the library’s service area can access library materials; they’re only a phone call away (582-3312).

With more and more learning and educational opportunities taking place online during the pandemic, the library also has increased access to online resources such as Hoopla for the streaming of audiobooks, ebooks and the like.

Plus, the library continues to offer boxes of books to Pittston-Randolph Consolidated School and the other RSU 11 schools in support of teachers’ lesson plans. As a father of two, I believe it’s especially important to vote for the library so every Pittston student can continue having the same access to library resources as every other student in our school district.

The library’s services will remain available to everyone in Pittston with our continued support for the library. Again, please join me in supporting the library on the Pittston budget referendum.

Tom Farkas

Pittston